Angeline Sim, 87, of Gurnee, the longtime co-owner of Sim’s Bowl in Des Plaines, died Thursday, Sept. 6, at Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. Mrs. Sim grew up mostly in the Jefferson Park neighborhood and lived much of her adult life in Des Plaines. In 1946, Mrs. Sim and her husband opened the B&B Lounge, a popular tavern in Des Plaines. While recovering from a serious automobile accident in 1954, Mrs. Sim was visited in the hospital by someone who wanted to buy her out so he could build a bowling alley, said her daughter, Jackie Baker. The offer came at a time when bowling was becoming more popular, and Mrs. Sim–who had been considering converting the lounge into a nightclub–decided the bowling alley idea was a good one and adopted it herself. “She told my dad that we’re going to build a bowling alley,” her daughter said. “He thought she was delirious.” Sim’s Bowl, which the Sims opened in 1956 with Mrs. Sim’s brother and uncle as silent partners, proved popular. It was one of the first alleys to have automatic pin setters, Baker said. The Sims sold the alley in 1978 and moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., but the alley remains open as Sim’s Bowl. Besides her daughter, Mrs. Sim also is survived by a sister, Helene Wilson; and six grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights. Funeral services will begin with prayers at the funeral home at 9:15 a.m. Monday, followed by mass at 10 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Church, 411 N. Wheeling Rd., Prospect Heights.
