Robert P. (Bob) Simpson, 86, died on June 19, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN.
He is survived by his wife, Marian (McGirr), daughter Holly Simpson (Bill Beechler) , granddaughters Anne, Julia and Rose of Indianapolis and brother James (Anne) of Lenoir City, TN. He is preceded death by his parents Frank M. and Martha (Harrison) Simpson, and his brothers Frank Jr. and Charles.
Robert was born March 5, 1929 in La Feria, Texas. Robert graduated from Merkel (Texas) High School in May 1946.
In September 1946, Robert volunteered for the U. S. Army. He was assigned to the Second Infantry Division band at Ft. Lewis, WA. Following his discharge in 1948, he enrolled at Texas A&M with a major in Chemical Engineering. He was active in the Corps of Cadets, and during the school year 1950-1951 he was appointed Company Commander of “A” Veteran Company, a unit composed of men who had served in the Armed Forces.
In 1951 during the Korean War, he was awarded his commission as a 2nd Lt. with an obligation to serve a two year term of active duty to fulfill his ROTC commitment. He was stationed with the 877th Quartermaster Petroleum Depot Company based in Metz, France. Late in his tour of duty, he was promoted to Company Commander.
Robert returned to Texas A&M in the fall of 1954 and graduated in May 1955. He took a job with Columbia Southern Chemical Company located in Lake Charles, LA. In early 1963, he transferred to Saskatchewan, Canada. While living in Regina, Saskatchewan, he had a blind date with a young nurse, Marian McGirr. They were married on September 10, 1966.
Bob and Marian moved to London, Ontario where he received his MBA from the University of Western Ontario. He took a position with Atlas Chemical Co., in Chattanooga, TN., where Holly was born. His work in chemical engineering led the family to move several more times: first to Wilmington, DE then Goldsboro NC and finally Jeffersonville, IN where he and Marian resided until earlier this year.
Bob was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and clay target shooting. He was also well known for his homemade sourdough bread, sourdough biscuits and pancakes that were enjoyed by friends and family. Bob was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, Jeffersonville and served as a ruling Elder and Treasurer. He was also member of the Rotary Club (inactive) and was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
A memorial service will take place on July 5 at 3:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville, IN, with visitation starting at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests gifts be directed to the memorial fund of the church.