Elaine Simmons, 1950-2025

Elaine Simmons, a longtime veterans advocate, and a former National President of the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America, died on May 13. She was 75. A former member of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 99th Army Security Agency, she married David Simmons in 1989, and soon after they both became active members of Princeton, West Virginia, Chapter 628.

For more than 30 years, Elaine and Dave Simmons dedicated a large part of their time and energy to serving veterans and their families through volunteering and working in a range of appointed and elected positions in AVVA and VVA.

Elaine Simmons joined VVA as an Associate Member in Chapter 628. She was then appointed West Virginia State Associate Liaison and Region 3 Associate Liaison. She became an active and effective AVVA member when that organization was founded in 1999, serving in several key roles, including as National President from 2008-10, and, most recently, as West Virginia State President.

“I have known Elaine since 2006, and she has been dedicated to veterans longer than I have known her,” said AVVA President Sharon Hobbs. “She served in elected offices at all levels of our organization, including as National President and was unwavering in her enthusiasm and commitment to AVVA.”

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