Joseph Simpson

Joseph Simpson was born August 12, 1931 in Midway, Kentucky, to Orgin and Jeanette Simpson. He was the second child for them. His older brother was Emmett Simpson. Joe joined the Navy at age 19 during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in San Diego. It was during this time that he met Bonnie Bell Cowan at church. Joe and Bonnie married on June 13, 1953. They had three children: Janice, born in 1954; Joseph Allen, born in 1956; and Cheryl, born in 1958.

Joe and Bonnie lived in California for a few years, and then moved to Kentucky. They also lived in Texas and Arizona before moving back to California, where they lived in Fontana, then ended up in Barstow in 1960. Joe and his family moved to Hemet in 1963.

Joe worked as a mechanic and in body and fender repair all of his life. He was always interested in cars, motorcycles, and anything that had an engine. He worked for Sloan’s Auto Body in Hemet until 1976. He then started working for Metropolitan Water District and retired from there in 1994.

Joe and Bonnie were members of First Baptist Church of San Jacinto. During his time there, he enjoyed teaching the high school boys in Sunday School. After their Sunday School lesson, they would all talk about cars and sometimes you would find Joe and the boys out in the parking lot looking under the hood of someone’s car.

His family remembers always having something to drive around, like motorcycles, mini-bikes, golf carts and scooters, out on the dirt roads and the riverbed.

Joe grew up on a farm and was a lover of all animals. If a stray came into the yard, it became the new family pet. He often brought strays home. His

children had all kinds of animals growing up; horses, cows, chickens, goats, pigs, ducks and rabbits.

In 2001, his wife, Bonnie, passed away. In 2003, he married again to Barbara Holden and they lived in Riverside. Barbara passed away in 2010. Joe then moved back to Hemet and lived here the remainder of his life.

Joe loved to go out to eat and “shoot the breeze” with everyone. He spent many hours at Ramiro’s Mexican Restaurant in Riverside, visiting with people he got to know there, including friends Danny and Gloria and the owners of the restaurant, Martha and Ramiro. When he moved back to Hemet, he spent many hours at Abby’s Café in Hemet, making friends there. Joe, his family and friends enjoyed many meals at Pride of Italy in San Jacinto. Joe never met a stranger. He could talk to anyone.

Joe’s grandson, Kale, had a special name for his Grandpa, “Grandpa Num Num.” Kale gave his grandpa this name because Kale and Joe loved to go out to eat together.

Joe loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He would take them out to eat, any chance he could.

Joe is survived by his daughter, Janice; son-in-law Denny, son Joseph Allen and Doreen, daughter Cheryl, 9 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.