TYLER SIMPSON
Oct. 15, 1921-Dec. 25, 2009
SPRINGFIELD, Va. -- Tyler Simpson died Christmas day.
A memorial will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at St. John's United Methodist Church in Springfield, Va.
Simpson was born Oct.15, 1921, to Sylvan Blum and Marguerite Anne Jones Simpson, in Austin, Texas.
He attended the University of Texas from 1939 until his drafting in 1942. Simpson's Army Air Corps tour of duty included the west coast and Okinawa. Upon his discharge, he and a friend went to Manila, Philippines. He began employment with the United States Veterans Adminis-tration and received a master's degree in social science from Middle Tennessee University.
Simpson was selected to become civilian personnel officer at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base upon its reopening in 1956.
After serving at Seymour Johnson AFB for 11 years, Simpson began work in 1967 with the Federal Communications Comm-ission in Washington, D.C. He was the first new employee hired by ACTION agency when it was formed in 1971. He retired from government service in 1980.
At 88, Simpson continued the tax preparation business (TAX FAX) that he started after retirement.
He co-founded the Wayne Action Group for Economic Solvency (WAGES) in 1965 and gave this organization its name. He initiated the forming of the Federal Credit Union in Goldsboro. He served in the Toastmasters organization as member and president and taught public speaking courses at Wayne Community College. He also served as PTA President at Goldsboro Junior High and Goldsboro High School
Simpson volunteered for 20 years in the Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (Illiff Nursing and Rehab Center), spending four hours weekly advising residents of their rights as patients and ensuring that those rights were respected.
He counseled bereaved families in the Capital Hospice program from 1986 to 2002.
The Ty Simpson Fund for Student Excellence was established in 2005 by his daughters and their families to promote excellence in career preparation for Mount Olive College students.
Simpson received the Outstanding Senior Adult Award from the County of Fairfax, Va. He received a lifetime membership from the Masonic Service Organization.
Simpson is survived by his wife of 62 years, Patsy Martinez Simpson; his three children, Shirley Simpson Ray of Chattanooga, Tenn., Linda Simpson Greenwood of Goldsboro and Melody Simpson Barackman of Norfolk, Va.; his grandchildren, Corey Kraft Gildener of London, England, Tyler Thomas Ray of Denver, Colo., David Simpson Ray of New York City, N.Y., Christopher Potter Greenwood of Herndon, Va., and Katherine Stone Greenwood of Valdosta, Ga.; his sons-in-law, Dr. Thurston Potter Greenwood and Charles "Chuck" Stewart Barackman; and a great-granddaughter, Harper Grace Gildener.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Halquist Memorial Inpatient Center, 4715 N. 15th St., Arlington, Va., 22205, or to St. John's United Methodist Church, 5312 Backlick Road, Springfield, Va., 22151.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on December 29, 2009 1:50 PM