Darrell Davis Simmonds

Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Davis ("Dee") Simmonds took his final flight, which was to Heaven, on September 27, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas, at the age of 92.

Darrell was born on January 21, 1934, in Perry, Oklahoma, to John Quincy Simmonds and Nellie Hazel Davis Simmonds. After graduating from Vernon High School in Vernon, Texas, Darrell attended Texas Christian University, where he graduated in 1955 with a Degree in Geology. Darrell proudly played End for the TCU Frogs football team for 4 years. He also had a passion for flying and was active in the ROTC at TCU and a member of the Flying Frogs which allowed him to enter the United States Air Force as an officer where he courageously served our country for 22 years.

Standing at 6 foot 5, and known as "Big D" to his friends, Darrell could command a room with his huge smile, exuberant laugh, and sense of humor. As a career Air Force fighter pilot, his life was filled with adventure and travel, being stationed around the world. An event which he called the highlight of his life, occurred during the Vietnam war in 1967 while he was stationed in Ubon, Thailand, which was the front-line facility of the USAF during the war. On November 6, 1967, Darrell and his rear seat pilot were escorting the bomber strike force in Vietnam, flying the Phantom F-4 fighter plane, when the strike force was attacked by enemy MIG-17's. Darrell successfully shot down 2 MIGS in short order. They were the first Phantom crew to shoot down 2 MIGS on a single mission. The exciting "Top Gun" type dogfight simulation can be seen on YouTube by searching "Dogfights: Gun Kills of Vietnam," with Darrell's dogfight starting at point 29:30 on the video. He spent his life sharing his experience and accepting many honors and awards. He was a member of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association River Rats and attended the reunions regularly.

Darrell had many other passions, including photography, old westerns, dancing, and TCU football. First and foremost, he loved his family. Darrell had 2 children, a son and a daughter, during his marriage to Daris Frost Simmonds, and then, in 1975, he married Carolyn Salter Simmonds who had a beautiful daughter who became a bonus daughter to Darrell. Following Carolyn's death in 2009, he was blessed to meet Nancy Estes, who was his best friend and companion for many years. She predeceased him in death in 2026. He was surrounded by his loving family in his last hours, which were very peaceful.

Darrell is preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife, Carolyn Salter Simmonds, his brother, Winston Alton Simmonds, and his sister, Quincy Nell Simmonds Crawford. He is survived by his children, Dirk Simmonds (Jung Tung Cheng) and Janet Hahn (Glen), his bonus daughter, Candy Tibbs, his grandchildren, Dawson Simmonds and Lewis Simmonds (Kelli), and many special extended family members.

A special thank you to his amazing caregivers, Sheba Carter and Virginia "Gini" Crawford, for the extraordinary love and care you showed him, and also to his wonderful friends in the Robson Ranch community who filled his days with joy. 

Graveside Service: 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fort Worth Rotary Foundation Veterans Fund at www.rotaryfortworth.org