William Simpson

William "Bill" E. Simpson, age 86, loving husband, father and family man, passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at his residence in Kerrville. \r\n \r\nHe was born December 16, 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up on Island 40 on the Mississippi River, where his family had a farm. He attended school in Marion, Arkansas, where he graduated in 1949. \r\n \r\nBill joined the Navy in 1950 and had his basic training at Millington Naval Base in Memphis, Tennessee. His first duty station was Barber's Point Territory of Hawaii. While in Hawaii he met Earleen Knox on June 18,1952 in Honolulu and they were married February 20, 1954 in a small chapel at Barber's Point. He was discharged from the Navy in 1954, joined the Naval Reserve and was stationed at Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas as Station Chief. He joined the Air Force in 1956 and retired in 1970. He worked at Ellington A.F.B. as a quality control inspector for NASA contractors for 34 years. He retired in 2004 at the age of 75 and moved to Kerrville in 2005. He attended Riverhill Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall. \r\n \r\nBill was preceded in death by his son, David William Simpson, his parents, W. A. Simpson and Mary Howard Simpson, his father in-law, William (Bill) Knox and mother in-law, Betty Wilkerson Knox; sister in-law, Miriam Thompson and brother in-law, Tommy Thompson; and brother in-law, Jim Knox. \r\n \r\nHe is survived by his wife of 61 years, Earleen Knox Simpson; two sisters, Dorothy L. Lagus of West Memphis, Arkansas, Mary Chambliss and husband Ray of Marion, Arkansas; sister in-law, Lynette Simpson of Abilene, Texas; two brothers, E. Ray Simpson and wife Barbara and Albert H. Simpson and wife Kay; brothers in law, Douglas Knox and wife Beulah of Kerrville, Texas and Deryl D. Knox and wife Shirley of Missouri City, Texas; sisters-in-law, Georgia Faye Knox of Kerrville, Texas and Cheryl Connell of College Station, Texas. Many special nephews, nieces, grand nephews and nieces, great grand nephews and nieces and his best friend and buddy, Ross Broome and his wife Marlene of Friendswood, Texas, also survive.\r\n \r\nVisitation will be held 5-7 PM, Friday, June 19, 2015 at Grimes Funeral Chapels.\r\n \r\nServices will be held 2 PM, Saturday, June 20, 2015 at Grimes Funeral Chapels with burial following at Sunset Cemetery in Mountain Home.\r\n \r\nIn lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.\r\n \r\n[contact-form-7 id="73" title="Send Condolences"]