Bruce completed grade school at Buffalo, West Virginia, and attended summer school at Elizabeth, West Virginia. He taught school from 1920 to 1933 at Two Runs, Lucille, Buffalo, and Mayberry, West Virginia. He was a member and past president of the Wirt County Board of Education when the currently used Wirt County High School was built. His first farm was purchased in 1922 and he continued farming through out his life. Bruce worked for the Soil Erosion Service; taught vetrans training, worked for the West Virginia Department of Highways and was a delegate to the West Virginia Legislature. He was also a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics No. 33 of Palestine, West Virginia, and a member of the Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Services of Wirt County. Sims Family History, Mazie Sims Cochran, 1971.

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EX-PRESIDENT OF WIRT BOE DIES AT AGE 85

J. Bruce Sims, 85, of Palestine, die Sunday afternoon at ... following a long illness.

He was born in Palestine, a son of the late Benjamin and Susan Smith Sims. He was a farmer and also worked for the Department of Highways. He also had been employed as a teacher for 13 years in the Wirt County School system where he taught veterans training programs.

He was a member and trustee of Buffalo United United Methodist Church, but had attended Two Runs Baptist Church for many years.

He was also a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics No. 33 of Palestine, a member of the Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Services of Wirt County, and a member and past president of the Wirt County Board of Education when it was responsible for the construction of the Wirt County High School.

Surviving are his wife Eula Virginia George Thorn Sims; four sons, Harold and Benny both of Palestine, Roy of Southern Pine, N.C., Michael of Greenfield, Ohio; a step-son William Thorn of Palestine; a step[daughter Pam Kessinger of Moncks Corner, S.C.; a sister Mazie Cochran of South Charleston; 28 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

He was proceed in death by his first wife Ottie McCutcheon Sims, on June 20, 1959; a son, Edward; seven brothers; two sisters; and a grandson.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Two Runs Baptist Church with the Rev, David L. Kidd,Sr. officiating. Burial was in Two Runs Church Cemetery.