Millinocket and Virginia - William H Simpson, age 91, a retired civil engineer from Great Northern Nekoosa, died May 25 in Roanoke, Virginia. Bill worked most of his career in the Maine mills but also had temporary assignments in Georgia and Mississippi. After retirement, he spent time in Wells, Maine, Florida and Virginia.
He was born in Millinocket Maine in 1928, the son of William R and Mary Alice (Hopkins) Simpson. He graduated from Stearns High School and the University of Maine. Bill served in the Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War.
He was a Past Master of the Nollsemic Lodge of Masons, Past Patron of Onawa chapter of the Eastern Star, and a long-time member of Millinocket Baptist Church and Journey Church in Roanoke Virginia.
Bill played in the Millinocket town band and served on numerous boards, including the Terre Haute and Crestview elderly housing projects in Millinocket and the facilities committee at Orchard Villas in Roanoke. He served in several ministries including his church’s food pantry and went on multiple mission trips to Nicaragua and Honduras, personally providing glasses to hundreds of people through the years. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, and travelling with his wife, Jean.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jean, of Roanoke; two daughters and their husbands, Florrie and David Randall of Bangor, Maine and Sara and Richard Brown, of Troutville, Virginia; Four grandchildren, Sara Saxton and husband, Dan, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Abby Randall, of Bangor, Maine; Rachel Brown and Ryan Brown, of Troutville, Virginia; and one great-grandchild Cora Saxton; Sisters Nadine Boynton of Millinocket, Maine and Jean Nuss of Crown Point Indiana, and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at Millinocket Cemetery on Monday June 17 at 11AM.