Donald Ray Simpson, 69, of Temple, passed away on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, August 2, 2015, at the Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. Burial with military honors, will be at 9 a.m., Monday, August 3, 2015, in Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas. A memorial and celebration will follow at 11 a.m., at Immanuel Baptist Church in Temple, Texas with Dr. Ron Milne and Rev. Charlie Day officiating.
Don was born in Graham, Texas, to the late Rev. Curtis and Joyce Simpson. He graduated from Monterey High School in 1964, in Lubbock, Texas. Don met Pat Yocum Simpson while attending Hardin Simmons University. They married on September 2, 1966. Don then transferred to Texas Tech, but completed his college with a degree in Psychology and as an Air Force ROTC officer candidate from his beloved Baylor University in 1970.
Don served in the U.S. Air Force as a B-52 navigator pilot during the Vietnam War. In the last years of his military career, he served as a Transportation and Liaison Officer for Central Texas, interviewing and recruiting students interested in attending the Air Force Academy. Don retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. Working for HEB as a safety and risk manager for 17 years allowed Don to serve both the HEB customers as well as the company. After retirement, Don volunteered as Lead Coordinator for the Central Texas Senior Partners Club. This allowed him to plan activities for other retired HEB employees. He loved his job simply because he loved helping people.
He was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church of Temple, serving as chairman of the deacons, Sunday School teacher, choir member, department director, and served on various committees.
Don was passionate about sports. He loved the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Cowboys, and his personal favorite, the Baylor Bears. Like his faith commitment, his commitment to his alma mater was a strong influence in his life. He wore his green and gold proudly. He was either watching, attending, texting, or emailing his friends about the Bears. Don rarely missed watching or attending a Texas Rangers game. A group of Don’s Air Force buddies met each year and took a trip. Their goal was to visit every major league baseball stadium in the United States. After eight trips to various parts of the country, he had almost completed his goal.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Pat Yocum Simpson, of Temple, Texas; daughter, Teri Celeste Zadinchek and husband, Justin, of Temple; son, Daryle and fiancée, Liz Sadler, of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Alexandria Leigh Pennington, of Plano, and, Zane Pennington, of Temple; brothers, Gary Simpson Sr. and wife, Donna, of Ft. Worth, and Joe Simpson, of Malibu, CA; sister, Sally Simpson Lee and husband, Steve, of Belton; many other family members, and numerous friends.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 8/1/2015...P19
Don was born in Graham, Texas, to the late Rev. Curtis and Joyce Simpson. He graduated from Monterey High School in 1964, in Lubbock, Texas. Don met Pat Yocum Simpson while attending Hardin Simmons University. They married on September 2, 1966. Don then transferred to Texas Tech, but completed his college with a degree in Psychology and as an Air Force ROTC officer candidate from his beloved Baylor University in 1970.
Don served in the U.S. Air Force as a B-52 navigator pilot during the Vietnam War. In the last years of his military career, he served as a Transportation and Liaison Officer for Central Texas, interviewing and recruiting students interested in attending the Air Force Academy. Don retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. Working for HEB as a safety and risk manager for 17 years allowed Don to serve both the HEB customers as well as the company. After retirement, Don volunteered as Lead Coordinator for the Central Texas Senior Partners Club. This allowed him to plan activities for other retired HEB employees. He loved his job simply because he loved helping people.
He was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church of Temple, serving as chairman of the deacons, Sunday School teacher, choir member, department director, and served on various committees.
Don was passionate about sports. He loved the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Cowboys, and his personal favorite, the Baylor Bears. Like his faith commitment, his commitment to his alma mater was a strong influence in his life. He wore his green and gold proudly. He was either watching, attending, texting, or emailing his friends about the Bears. Don rarely missed watching or attending a Texas Rangers game. A group of Don’s Air Force buddies met each year and took a trip. Their goal was to visit every major league baseball stadium in the United States. After eight trips to various parts of the country, he had almost completed his goal.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Pat Yocum Simpson, of Temple, Texas; daughter, Teri Celeste Zadinchek and husband, Justin, of Temple; son, Daryle and fiancée, Liz Sadler, of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Alexandria Leigh Pennington, of Plano, and, Zane Pennington, of Temple; brothers, Gary Simpson Sr. and wife, Donna, of Ft. Worth, and Joe Simpson, of Malibu, CA; sister, Sally Simpson Lee and husband, Steve, of Belton; many other family members, and numerous friends.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 8/1/2015...P19
Donald Ray Simpson, 69, of Temple, passed away on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, August 2, 2015, at the Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. Burial with military honors, will be at 9 a.m., Monday, August 3, 2015, in Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas. A memorial and celebration will follow at 11 a.m., at Immanuel Baptist Church in Temple, Texas with Dr. Ron Milne and Rev. Charlie Day officiating.
Don was born in Graham, Texas, to the late Rev. Curtis and Joyce Simpson. He graduated from Monterey High School in 1964, in Lubbock, Texas. Don met Pat Yocum Simpson while attending Hardin Simmons University. They married on September 2, 1966. Don then transferred to Texas Tech, but completed his college with a degree in Psychology and as an Air Force ROTC officer candidate from his beloved Baylor University in 1970.
Don served in the U.S. Air Force as a B-52 navigator pilot during the Vietnam War. In the last years of his military career, he served as a Transportation and Liaison Officer for Central Texas, interviewing and recruiting students interested in attending the Air Force Academy. Don retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. Working for HEB as a safety and risk manager for 17 years allowed Don to serve both the HEB customers as well as the company. After retirement, Don volunteered as Lead Coordinator for the Central Texas Senior Partners Club. This allowed him to plan activities for other retired HEB employees. He loved his job simply because he loved helping people.
He was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church of Temple, serving as chairman of the deacons, Sunday School teacher, choir member, department director, and served on various committees.
Don was passionate about sports. He loved the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Cowboys, and his personal favorite, the Baylor Bears. Like his faith commitment, his commitment to his alma mater was a strong influence in his life. He wore his green and gold proudly. He was either watching, attending, texting, or emailing his friends about the Bears. Don rarely missed watching or attending a Texas Rangers game. A group of Don’s Air Force buddies met each year and took a trip. Their goal was to visit every major league baseball stadium in the United States. After eight trips to various parts of the country, he had almost completed his goal.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Pat Yocum Simpson, of Temple, Texas; daughter, Teri Celeste Zadinchek and husband, Justin, of Temple; son, Daryle and fiancée, Liz Sadler, of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Alexandria Leigh Pennington, of Plano, and, Zane Pennington, of Temple; brothers, Gary Simpson Sr. and wife, Donna, of Ft. Worth, and Joe Simpson, of Malibu, CA; sister, Sally Simpson Lee and husband, Steve, of Belton; many other family members, and numerous friends.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 8/1/2015...P19
Don was born in Graham, Texas, to the late Rev. Curtis and Joyce Simpson. He graduated from Monterey High School in 1964, in Lubbock, Texas. Don met Pat Yocum Simpson while attending Hardin Simmons University. They married on September 2, 1966. Don then transferred to Texas Tech, but completed his college with a degree in Psychology and as an Air Force ROTC officer candidate from his beloved Baylor University in 1970.
Don served in the U.S. Air Force as a B-52 navigator pilot during the Vietnam War. In the last years of his military career, he served as a Transportation and Liaison Officer for Central Texas, interviewing and recruiting students interested in attending the Air Force Academy. Don retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. Working for HEB as a safety and risk manager for 17 years allowed Don to serve both the HEB customers as well as the company. After retirement, Don volunteered as Lead Coordinator for the Central Texas Senior Partners Club. This allowed him to plan activities for other retired HEB employees. He loved his job simply because he loved helping people.
He was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church of Temple, serving as chairman of the deacons, Sunday School teacher, choir member, department director, and served on various committees.
Don was passionate about sports. He loved the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Cowboys, and his personal favorite, the Baylor Bears. Like his faith commitment, his commitment to his alma mater was a strong influence in his life. He wore his green and gold proudly. He was either watching, attending, texting, or emailing his friends about the Bears. Don rarely missed watching or attending a Texas Rangers game. A group of Don’s Air Force buddies met each year and took a trip. Their goal was to visit every major league baseball stadium in the United States. After eight trips to various parts of the country, he had almost completed his goal.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Pat Yocum Simpson, of Temple, Texas; daughter, Teri Celeste Zadinchek and husband, Justin, of Temple; son, Daryle and fiancée, Liz Sadler, of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Alexandria Leigh Pennington, of Plano, and, Zane Pennington, of Temple; brothers, Gary Simpson Sr. and wife, Donna, of Ft. Worth, and Joe Simpson, of Malibu, CA; sister, Sally Simpson Lee and husband, Steve, of Belton; many other family members, and numerous friends.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 8/1/2015...P19
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