David Charles Simpson

David was born in the town of Pollock, South Dakota, on January 22, 1934, to Reverend John Franklin Simpson and Lovenah Ida Reisdorph Simpson, in the midst of the Great Depression, the youngest of 6 children.

David lived in multiple small South Dakota towns during the early years of his father’s pastoral ministry. The family later settled in Sturgis, SD, where David graduated from Sturgis High School in 1952. He spent his early mornings hunting geese and jackrabbits before school and played trombone in the school and rodeo bands. He worked his way through the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, graduating in 1956 with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. As a young adult, he volunteered to help build churches throughout rural South Dakota and traveled with his father for missionary work and church planting in the Philippine Islands. In 1959, he graduated with a M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and became a member of Eta Kappa Nu, National Electrical Engineering Honor Fraternity. He married the love of his life Onda Jane McKeever on July 18, 1959, in Marion, Indiana. They moved to Alabama where he worked as a Research Engineer for the US Army Missile Command Research and Development Laboratories at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

In 1964, at age thirty, with his wife and three young children, David moved to Birmingham to enter the Medical College of Alabama. He served as class president during both his junior and senior years and became a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, National Collegiate Leadership Fraternity, and Alpha Omega Alpha, National Medical Honor Society, graduating in 1968. He completed his internship at Carraway Methodist Hospital in Birmingham and his pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Alabama. He was also privileged to serve a clinical clerkship at Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, Haiti. He became a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In 1971, he joined Dr. James C. Johnson to form Vestavia Pediatrics in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. The practice grew to become a five-member group, eventually affiliating with the Children's of Alabama Health System. In 1980, he served as President of the Medical and Dental Staff of Children's Hospital. He maintained staff privileges at St. Vincent's Hospital, Brookwood Hospital, and Baptist Medical Center Montclair Hospital as well. In 1990, his son, Dr. John David Simpson completed his pediatric residency at the Children's Hospital of Alabama and joined Vestavia Pediatrics where he and David shared the privilege of practicing together for fourteen years until David’s retirement in 2004.

In 1991, he received an appointment of Clinical Professor of Pediatrics by the School of Medicine and mentored medical students in his clinical-practice office setting. Early in his pediatric career, he became the general pediatrician for the nonprofit Glenwood Autism and Behavioral Center. He enjoyed serving the children, adolescents, and young adults in Glenwood's care until his retirement. During his career, he was a member of the following professional organizations: Jefferson County Medical Society, Jefferson County Pediatric Society, Alabama State Medical Association, American Medical Association, and the Christian Medical and Dental Society. In 2014, he was honored to receive the Martha Myers Role Model Award from the University of Alabama Medical Alumni Association.

In his community, David was a member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of the Alabama Symphony Association, and a Chairman of its Education Division String School and Youth Orchestras. He was a President of the Homewood High School Parent Teacher Organization and Homewood High Band Boosters; a Chairman of the Board of Elders of Shades Mountain Bible Church; and a Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham. He participated in mission trips to Kazakhstan in 2000, 2005, and 2006; and served as a medical consultant for many missionary families living abroad. A highlight of his years as a member of Shades Mountain Bible Church was teaching the sixth grade Sunday School Biblical Survey class with his wife Onda. Several grandchildren enjoyed their instruction. In connection with the Christian Medical Ministry of Alabama, he and his wife Onda, hosted weekly dinners and Bible studies for twenty-five to sixty medical and allied health students in their home for 15 years. Some of the students were his former patients, who later became his colleagues.

Throughout David’s life, he was an avid photographer and gardener. He enjoyed creating unique birthday cards yearly for all family members, with photographs reflecting significant recent events in their lives. In retirement, he could often be found in the yard with grandchildren alongside, pulling weeds, tending beds of flowers, and taking rides with them in his John Deere Gator.

David’s life was characterized by his faith in and love for Jesus Christ. He is survived by his wife Onda to whom he was married for sixty-six years and their five children, John (Deborah) Simpson, Donald (Holly) Simpson, Mary (Drew) Wilson, Timothy (Theresa) Simpson, and Elizabeth (Utz) McKnight. God also blessed him with twenty grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren whom he loved greatly and thoroughly enjoyed.

David Simpson will be laid to rest at a family graveside service on September 6, 2025, at Southern Heritage Cemetery in Pelham, AL.

There will be a “Celebration of Life” service for Dr. Simpson on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 65 Old Montgomery Highway, Homewood, AL. A reception will follow the service in the Fellowship Hall.

Memorial donations may be made to the following organizations through which David served others.

Children’s of Alabama

https://childrensal.org/foundation/ways-give/honor-memorial-giving

Christian Medical Ministry of Alabama

https://CMMAUAB.org/donations

Glenwood - Helping Children and Adults with Autism

https://Glenwood.org/ways-to-support/donate/