Eugenia Kathleen Simons

Mrs. Eugenia England Simons, 82, formerly of Oxford, died Thursday, May 26, 2022, at Trinity Oaks in Salisbury.

 A native of Ashland, Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Lynwood Earl and Kathleen Wilkinson England, and loving sister to Frances Lee England. She was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Salisbury.

 Funeral services will be Saturday, June 4, 2022. Burial will be at 11:00 am at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Richmond, VA, followed by a service of celebration at 3:00 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Oxford, NC. A visitation/reception will follow in the parish hall after the service.

 Predeceased by her husband, The Rev. Harrison Thayer Simons. Survivors include son George E. Simons (Georgia) of Salisbury; daughter Deanna Simons Hollis (Lane) of Birmingham, AL.; nine grandchildren and two great grandsons.

 Known as Gene to all her friends, she studied dance in Richmond prior to attending Mary Washington College. She founded the Eugenia E. Simons School of Dance in 1971 and spent the next 27 years instructing hundreds of students before retiring after her 27^th recital on May 9, 1998. In retirement she continued to instruct adult ballroom classes and to volunteer with the members at the Adult Day Care Center in Oxford.

 Gene served her community as an active board member of District Home Health, Group Homes, and Penick Village. She served as a bookstore volunteer with Ed/Lit Resources, was a member of the Granville Arts Council and was choreographer for the Granville Little Theater. She was especially proud to be the first woman president of the Oxford Kiwanis Club. In her retirement, she continued to sew, tend to her flowers, and spend time with her family. Her final years were in Salisbury, NC where she could be closer to family.

 Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Stephen’s Altar Guild in Oxford, or to the Lutheran Services of the Carolinas.

 Gentry-Newell and Vaughn, Oxford, NC is in charge of funeral arrangements.