Gwendolyn Florence Sims, age 77, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2022. She was born on October 22, 1944 in Portland, Oregon to Oscar Franklin Webb, Sr. and Lucy (Kelley) Webb, both of whom preceded her in death.

Gwen grew up in Gary, Indiana, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1963 before moving on to Oakwood College. In 1966, she married her love, Alton Sims, Sr. She completed her nursing degree at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, and began her career as a registered nurse, which spanned nearly 40 years. She was very proud of her work as a nurse, and throughout those years, worked at Methodist Hospitals, Gary Community School Corporation, and Robinson Adult Daycare. Gwen was a woman of prayer, an amazing mother, sister, and lifelong friend. She was an animal lover who enjoyed shopping, reading, traveling, playing board games, and spending time with friends and family. Gwen was known for her sense of humor and enjoyed playing fun pranks on her family. She always tended to people, cared for people, and was a selfless individual and true healer. She was very giving and even made it a habit to regularly send curated care packages to friends and loved ones – it was her own ministry.

Gwen’s life was a living example of the words in Philippians 2:3-4: “Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.”

In addition to her parents, Gwen was preceded in death by her husband, Alton Sims, Sr.; son, Michael Sims; brother, Oscar Webb, Jr; and sister, Betty Webb-Wallace. She is survived by her children, Alton (Leslee) Sims, Jr., and Telisa (Rahman Howard) Sims; granddaughter, Marrissa Sims; sisters, Connie (Billy) Webb-Jones, Wanda (Shareef) Malik, Darlene (Roy) Jones, and Nina Webb; brothers, Darnell Webb, Darrell Webb, Noland Webb, and Irvin Webb; special cousin, Delia “Bootsie” Woods; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends, all of whom she loved and touched deeply.

Please join us in celebrating Gwen’s life on Wednesday, June 1st, 2022. A viewing will be held between 9 am and noon at Calumet Park’s Merrillville Chapel, located at 7535 Taft St. in Merrillville. A private interment will follow at Calumet Park Cemetery, 2305 W. 73rd Ave. in Merrillville.

Gwen was charitable and generous throughout her lifetime, giving selflessly to those she loved and to causes that were important to her. The family requests that those who wish to express sympathy consider making a donation to their favorite charity in Gwen’s name.