HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 16
(By Delegates Ellem, Anderson, Azinger, Border and Beane)
[Introduced February 10, 2003; referred to the
Committee on Rules.]
Commemorating the passing of James W. Simonton, public servant,
gentleman, lawyer and family man.
Whereas, James W. Simonton was born February 11, 1934, at
Hebron, Pleasants County, West Virginia, the son of Coleman P. and
Delphia Odessa Simonton and died December 28, 2002, at the age of
sixty-eight at Parkersburg, West Virginia; and
Whereas, James W. Simonton was educated in Pleasants County
schools, having graduated from St. Marys High School in 1952 and
continued his education at Kent State University and graduated from
Marietta College in 1956 and from West Virginia University College
of Law in 1959; and
Whereas, Since 1959, James W. Simonton was an active general
practicing lawyer in Parkersburg and a member of the American Bar
Association, West Virginia Bar Association, Wood County Bar
Association and a past member of the American Trial Lawyers; and
Whereas, James W. Simonton was elected to the House of
Delegates from Wood County in 1962 and served as legal counsel to
the Minority Leader in the House of Delegates in 1967 and 1968; and
Whereas, James W. Simonton also served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Wood County from 1969-1972, assistant
Parkersburg city attorney in 1973, two four-year terms as
Parkersburg city attorney, the first from 1974-1978 and then from
1986-1990, divorce commissioner for the Circuit Court of Wood
County from 1973-1986, and Parkersburg municipal court judge from
1990-1994; and
Whereas, James W. Simonton was a member of many social and
civic organizations including, the Parkersburg Little League
Baseball program, a Scottish Rite Mason, member of the Mount Olivet
Lodge 3, Scottish Rite Bodies and Nemesis Shrine, past governor of
the Parkersburg Community Foundation charity, past member of the
Parkersburg Elks Club BPOE 198 and Moose Club, and past member of
the Board of Trustees for the West Virginia Special Olympics; and
Whereas, James W. Simonton is survived by his wife of 48 years,
Martha (Pat) Simonton; one son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Penny
Simonton of Mineral Wells; one daughter and son-in-law, Stacy and
Brent Smithers of Augusta, Georgia; and four grandchildren, Alicia
Diane Simonton, Nathaniel Wyatt Simonton, Shelby Cheyenne Simonton
and Emma Darby Smithers; and
Whereas, During his life, James W. Simonton gave unselfishly of
himself to his community, his country and his state and in so
doing, left this world a better place than it was when he entered
it; and
Whereas, The passing of James W. Simonton should not go unnoticed; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That regret is hereby expressed by the members at the passing
of James W. Simonton, public servant, gentleman, lawyer and family
man; a man who loved West Virginia and his fellowman; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to James' wife, Martha (Pat) Simonton,
and his children, Scott Simonton and Stacy Smithers and his
grandchildren, Alicia Diane Simonton, Nathaniel Wyatt Simonton,
Shelby Cheyenne Simonton and Emma Darby Smithers.