Memorials › Paul Edward Simpson

Paul Edward Simpson

24 Jul 1929 – 20 Aug 2023

Birth24 Jul 1929
Death20 Aug 2023
Added byKATHY NICHOLS BURRIS on 10 Sep 2023
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/258887551

Bio

Paul E. Simpson, age 94, of Amarillo, passed away and went to his eternal home on August 20, 2023. A memorial service will be on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 South Georgia, Amarillo, Texas. The first of seven children, Paul was born July 24, 1929, in Millersview, Texas, to his parents Tom Earl and Emilie Heiser Simpson. The family settled in Clovis, New Mexico and he graduated from Clovis High School in 1949. After graduation, he briefly worked for the Santa Fe Railroad and then joined the US Air Force. While stationed in England, he met and married Elizabeth Horn in December of 1953. Together, they had two daughters, Theresa and Karen. The family moved quite often as Paul was stationed at several bases overseas and in the US. Paul was a military man through and through and he served his country proudly and with honor and respect. He was a highly skilled machinist with a strong work ethic. He was especially proud to have been a member of the SR-71 Blackbird Test Force while stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in 1967. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service upon his return from the Vietnam War. After retiring from the Air Force in 1971, Paul began a second career with BNSF Railroad. He worked as an equipment maintenance supervisor for the next twenty-three years until he retired. In 1990 he started his own company, Amarillo Hy-Rail, which serviced rail equipment for BNSF Railroad until his health declined and the company was sold in 2003. Unfortunately, Elizabeth passed away suddenly in 1988. The next few years were especially difficult for him until he met and married Sandra Collins on February 14, 1991, in Amarillo. Then in 1994, Theresa passed away after a lengthy illness. Fortunately, Paul and Sandra had each other and they always believed that they saved one another. They enjoyed many years together traveling, attending sporting events, fishing, and enjoying their home and family. One of their favorite trips was a cruise through the Panama Canal. Paul loved his home and garden and worked tirelessly to make them beautiful. He was gifted in that he could repair or build anything. He also loved his pets and whenever you saw him sitting on the porch or under a tree, one of the puppies was in his lap. Nonetheless, he was strict and a perfectionist. Yet despite how tough he tried to be on the outside, he was exceptionally tender on the inside. Shedding a tear during a sad or touching movie may have occurred more than once. He cherished his country and would be upset when people did not stand or remove their hats for the National Anthem. Foremost, he loved his family and was deeply devoted to them. Paul also served in the Masons for over fifty years and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mary Burris and Helen Hunter; two brothers, Earl Simpson and Roy Simpson; his first wife, Elizabeth; and by his daughter, Theresa Simpson. Paul is survived by his wife Sandra; his daughter Karen Clark and a special friend Richard Courte; his step- children, Bryan Collins and his wife Karen of Amarillo and Catherine Cleveland and her husband Jay of El Paso; his sister Pat Mason and her husband Terry of Colorado Springs; his brother Fred Simpson and his wife Rita of Seattle; sisters-in-law, Margie Simpson of Katy and Darlene Simpson of Lubbock; eleven grandchildren, Collen, Cara, Whit, Corie, Callie, Cade, Jentry, Jayna, Coulter, Jason, and Justin and several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Amarillo SPCA, P.O. Box 1014, Amarillo, TX, 79105 or to your favorite charity.

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