ALTAMONT — Charles C. Simons, a sincere man who always held onto hope, died on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, following an extended illness with Parkinson’s disease. He was 86.

Mr. Simons was born and raised in Berne, the son of the late Hadley T. and Victoria (née Hansen) Simons, and graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class.

He met his wife, Vaughan, in August of 1949, and the two were married the following December. They moved into an apartment in Altamont, where they lived for six years, before building a home outside the village of Altamont, where they lived ever since.

Mr. Simons was self-employed for many years, constructing pre-fabricated metal buildings. His wife said he constructed many buildings locally, including some that still stand at Altamont Orchards.

“His motto was, ‘You do it right the first time and you won’t have to do it again,’” Mrs. Simons said. “He was an exact person.”

Mr. Simons also had several years of federal government service as a welder at the former Voorheesville Army Depot, and later as a construction representative at the Watervliet Arsenal.

His favorite hobby, according to his wife, was working on projects around the house.

He also loved spending time with his family. Mr. and Mrs. Simons raised a son and a daughter.

“He produced some smart kids,” said Mrs. Simons. Both children were valedictorians of their Guilderland High School classes.

“He was just a great guy,” his wife said. “He was honest, and sincere.”

“He was my partner,” she said.

The family thanks the doctors and nursing staff at Ellis Hospital, as well as Hospice, for their overwhelming love and care.

In addition to his wife, Charles Simons is survived by his son, Kerry, of Nashua, N.H.; his daughter, Karen Engel, of Richmondville, N.Y.; his granddaughters, Kelly Engel, of Washington, D.C., Brett Engel, Esq., of Albany, and Leigh Engel, of New Orleans, La.; and his sisters-in-law, Janet Simons, of Albany, and Betty Simons, of Altamont.

 A memorial service will be held in St. John’s Lutheran Church, 142 Maple Ave., Altamont, at 2 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 1. There will be no calling hours. Arrangements are by the Fredendall Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinson Foundatin, Inc., Gift Processing Center, Post Office Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018, or to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Post Office Box 770, Altamont, NY 12009.

— Anne Hayden Harwood