Bruce Sims

BRUCE L. SIMS, 87, died at 10:30 p.m. February 10, 2007, at Springview Manor Nursing Home. He was born February 20, 1919, in Cleveland, Ohio to Farron U. and Naomi Wilson Sims, who preceded him in death. On April 27, 1946, he married Evelyn Bird, who survives in Lima, Ohio. Mr. Sims was owner and operator, for 35 years, of Lima Instrument Repair, since 1972. He had also worked at Zender Music and Porters Music. He was a member of Disciples of Christ. He was a member of Federation of Musician Local 320, where he was secretary and treasurer from 1985 to 1994, and was appointed a life member in 1994. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and was an avid target shooter. He and his parents formed the Sims Trio, where he played the piano, cello and violin. During the late 1940s to the mid-1950s, he played the cello with the Lima Symphony Orchestra and from 1936 to 1938 he played the clarinet with the American Legion Band. He will be remembered by all who knew him as an honest, moral, caring, intelligent and talented individual. He loved his family, friends and the passions of his life which included music, reading, boating, and working with his bands and his HO scale model train collection. Survivors also include a daughter, Anita (Gregory) Skinner, of Lima, Ohio; three grandchildren, Lisa (Jason) Rader of Marysville, Ohio, Andrea (Scott) LeBlond, of Davenport, Florida, and Timothy Skinner, of Columbus, Ohio; and four great-grandchildren, Cameron Rader, Austin Rader, Daniel Rader and Gabriel LeBlond. Memorial services will begin at 8 p.m. Thursday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. The Rev. Terry Porter will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until time of services Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lima Symphony Orchestra Endowment Fund, St. Rita's Hospice or Lima Memorial Health System's intensive care unit or emergency room. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.