William "Bill" H. Simpson

William “Bill” Simpson died at home on June 14, 2021, with his loving wife, Edith, and son, Steve, at his side. He was 96. Bill was born in old Rex Hospital on South Street in Raleigh on May 7, 1925. He was the only child and the beloved son of Edward Hughes and Aileen Boone Simpson.

The Simpson family lived on Park Avenue in his early years, then moved across Hillsborough Street to Park Drive in Cameron Park, where Bill made many meaningful lifelong friendships. He attended Wiley School and Needham Broughton High School. At Broughton he sang in the Glee Club, starred on the basketball team, was President of the Student Body, and was “Mr. Needham Broughton,” senior class superlative.

Soon after graduation in 1943, he was inducted into the U.S. Army. Always charmingly self-effacing, Bill downplayed his important role as a member of The Greatest Generation. The high point of his basic training was receiving the Expert Rifleman Badge, as he had never before shot anything but a BB gun. Swiftly deployed overseas, he was appointed First Scout for the 45th Infantry Division in the battle for the Anzio beachhead, the invasion of southern France, and the drive into Germany. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, and three Battle Stars. Several years after the war, the French government awarded Bill its highest civilian and military order of merit, the Legion of Honor.

When Bill returned home from the war, and before entering Wake Forest College, he met Edith Stephenson, a Meredith College freshman. This is when their lifelong love affair began. After Bill’s graduation from Wake Forest, they were married—a loving union that grew ever stronger over 71 years. At Wake Forest, Bill was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and for 27 years enjoyed being Advisor to the KA’s at State. Bill and Edith spent their first year of marriage in Charlotte, where Bill served as an intern at Myers Park Baptist Church before heading to New York to earn his M.A. at Columbia University. After his time in New York, he returned to his Raleigh roots and joined First Baptist Church as its Youth Director, a position he enjoyed for five years. During this time, their sons Stephen and Mark were born.

Bill soon embarked on a new path at NC State College. His career at NC State University began as Placement Director for the School of Engineering. Chancellor John Caldwell later appointed him Assistant to the Chancellor and the Provost. This involved being active in University affairs through work with a variety of boards and committees, including Secretary for numerous search committees, Secretary of the Committee on Committees, and Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees. Bill was instrumental in organizing the “Chancellor’s Aides,” a group of select students who assisted at all of the University functions. It was always a joy for him to interact with students, whether counseling the Engineering students on their futures and career paths, working with the Chancellor’s Aides and KA’s, or just greeting students on campus. The students expressed their respect and admiration for Bill by inducting him into the Golden Chain Honor Society, a student honorary society. After 33 years at NC State, he retired in 1990 as Secretary of the University, Emeritus.

Recognized by all for his skillful diplomacy, Governor Terry Sanford appointed Bill to the North Carolina Advisory Council to the Peace Corps in 1963.

After his retirement, Bill and Edith enjoyed traveling across America and to 11 European countries. Other sources of joy were their bridge club, supper club, volunteering, and playing tennis into their late seventies. Bill enjoyed the fellowship of the Old Raleigh Boys Club, the Good Old Raleigh Boys Club, the Rotary Club of Raleigh, the NC State Faculty Club, the “Early Birds Breakfast Club” and the Sports Club. He was an avid sports fan, but also enjoyed the NC Symphony and NC Museum of Art.

Chancellor Caldwell invited Bill to join the Rotary Club, saying “We need some younger men.” At his death, Bill had been a loyal member for over 50 years. He served as President and was a Paul Harris Fellow.

A First Baptist Church bulletin dated August 25, 1925 read: “Cradle Room Department – Welcome to our newest member, William Hughes Simpson.” Thus began his lifetime of devotion and love of First Baptist. He grew up in the Church, as a teenager sang in the choir, and although no longer its Youth Director, taught a Sunday School Class for many years, served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons, Chairman of the Trustees Board, Church Greeter, and on many other committees.

Bill was predeceased by his parents and his son, Mark. Others who predeceased him are two special aunts, Florine Boone and Gertrude Boone Speir; his cousin Monty Speir; his sisters-in-law Ann Stephenson and Martha Lou Stephenson; and his two brothers-in-law, Earl and Wiley Stephenson.

He is survived by his wife, Edith and his son, Steve. Also surviving are extended family members Nancy Jo Fleming and husband Bob; Joan Speir; nieces Martha Stephenson and husband Dennis Grady; Carla Stephenson and husband Mike Robinson; and Liz Clarke. Surviving nephews are Russell Stephenson and wife Pat; nephews William Clarke III and Douglas Martin.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at First Baptist Church on Saturday, June 19th at 2:00 p.m. A private interment at Oakwood Cemetery will precede the service.

The family requests that anyone wishing to honor Bill consider a memorial gift to the following organizations: First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh NC 27603; Wake Forest University, P.O. Box 7227, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109; the George and Reba Worsley Endowment, NC State University Libraries, NCSU Campus Box 7111, Raleigh, NC 27695.

Bill will be remembered for his love and devotion to Edith and family, his bravery, strong faith, sense of humor, big heart, kind and gentle spirit, and consummate positive outlook on life.

"There are people who vindicate the world, who help others live just by their presence."

- Albert Camus

Services provided by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s St., Raleigh, NC 27605.