Robert Sims

Funeral services for Robert Ruffie Sims will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at the First United Methodist Church, Walters, OK at 2:00 p.m. with Rev Brantley Tillery officiating. Interment in Walters Cemetery under the direction of Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home, Walters.

Robert was born to Hugh Sims and Gladys Cabelka Sims on January 16th, 1938 on a farm east of Geronimo, OK, and passed to his eternal home on January 14th, 2026 at his residence east of Walters.

Robert’s early childhood years were spent on the family farm with chores shared by two brothers and a sister. As the school years approached, he joined them on the daily walk to Phipps country one-room school. He loved to tell stories about this school. He was enrolled at Geronimo Public Schools in 1948 and graduated in 1955.

In late 1956 he was talked into a blind date by a friend and it blossomed into the love of his life. On October 5th, 1957 he and Barbara Cowherd were married at Valley View Church east of Walters. To this union three children were born, David, Michelle and Caryn.

After high school Robert worked at several filling stations around Lawton and a friend told him about an opportunity to work in Mineral Wells, Texas at the Army Primary Helicopter School. He applied and went to work in April 1957. He worked for Southern Airways of Texas for 16 years and when the Army closed Ft. Wolters he moved his family back to Oklahoma and he worked many more years in aircraft maintenance at Ft. Sill. When the Army moved aircraft out of Ft. Sill, Robert put in a small engine repair shop at his home and worked on lawn mowers for 19 years before his health caused him to close the shop.

Robert was very involved with his kids sports, coaching Little League and Little Dribblers while in Texas.

He was a member of the Walters First United Methodist church, Lawton Antique Car Club, involved in square dancing in the 1980’s-1990’s. Roberts main hobby was restoring old cars and his pride and joy was the 1927 Model T Woody Wagon, which he said was “built one piece at a time.” He and Barbara would frequently be seen driving one of his many cars during local parades and car shows.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, his brothers Raymond and Daymond and his sister Florence.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara of the home; 3 children David (Natalie) Sims of Pottsboro, TX, Michelle Sims of Benbrook, TX and Caryn (Kenny) Pacheco of Lawton, OK; his grandchildren Scott (Tiffany) Sims, Kyle (Hailey) Pacheco, Kayla (Dillon) Thompson and Virginia Sims; his great-grandchildren, Alayna Compass and Presley Pacheco; his brother, Edward (Eva) Sims; and nephews Dale (Ruth) Sims and Terry (Trish) Baughman.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Walters United Methodist Church Saturday Meal Program P.O. Box 446 or Walters Cemetery Association P.O. Box 485.