Sumner Earl (Bill) Simmons Jr. of Down Harbor Road in Edgartown and Barrington, R.I. died on March 22 after a long illness. He was 95.

He was predecased by his wife, Ruth B. Simmons, who died in 2014.

Born on March 29, 1920 in Somerset, he was the son of Sumner E. Simmons and Grace R. Paull. He was a graduate of Philips Exeter Academy and Harvard University, class of 1942. At Harvard, Bill was a varsity lacrosse player for three years. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served in the 15th Air Force as a flight engineer on the B-17 Flying Fortress.

In 1948, he started as an engineer at Factory Mutual, and stayed with the company through the rest of his career. He retired as a senior vice president of Allendale Insurance (now FM Global) in 1985.

With the exception of the years he served in the Air Force, Bill spent a part of every summer on the Vineyard (and would have been happy to live on the Island full time in retirement). For years, he was a familiar sight riding his bike along Katama Road, and he was an active member of the Down Harbor community. He was an avid sailor and a member of the Edgartown Yacht Club.

A devoted Red Sox fan, he had seen Babe Ruth play at Fenway Park and lived long enough to see the Sox finally win the World Series (three times).

He is survived by his two daughters, Ellen Simmons and Marcia S. Brown, both of Rhode Island, and by two grandchildren.

Gifts can be made in Bill’s memory to the Trustees of Reservations, 572 Essex Street, Beverly, MA, 01915; thetrustees.org/donate.