Dan Simpson Obituary

Dan R. Simpson

February 20, 1927 - January 24, 2015

Lake James

Daniel Reid Simpson, 87, of East Point Road at Lake James, died Saturday, January 24, 2015, after a courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

Born in Glen Alpine on February 20, 1927, he was the son of the late James Reid Simpson and Ethel Newton Simpson. After graduation from Glen Alpine High School at age 16, he joined the Army and fought with MacArthur's forces in the Philippines, and served in the occupation forces in Japan. Upon his return, he attended Wake Forest University where he obtained his undergraduate and law degrees in 1951.

After passing the North Carolina Bar Exam, Dan returned to Morganton, where he married his love, Mary Alice Leonard, who became his wife for the next 63 years; and set up his law office, where he would practice for the next 50 years.

Mr. Simpson believed in civic responsibility and community service. He served as Burke County's State Representative for three terms, elected in 1957, 1961 and 1963; and he served as Burke County's State Senator for six terms, elected in 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995. One of his proudest achievements was introducing, and shepherding through to passage, the bill that created Western Piedmont Community College.

He also served as an Alderman and as Mayor of the Town of Glen Alpine, as a Burke County Criminal Court Judge, and as a member of the N.C. Courts Commission and the N. C. Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Dan served as a North Carolina Delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1968 and 1972.

Dan is survived by his wife, Mary Alice Leonard Simpson, of the home; his daughter, Mary Simpson Beyer and husband Richard of Morganton; his son, James Reid Simpson II and wife Lannie of Morganton; and his daughter, Ethel Barie Simpson of Boone. He is survived by his brother, James Abernethy Simpson; and by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at Sossoman Funeral Home in Morganton from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2015. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2015, at Morganton First Baptist Church. Interment will be at the Glen Alpine Cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690 or to the Glen Alpine Recreation Foundation, c/o Glen Alpine Town Hall, P.O. Box 898, Glen Alpine, NC 28628.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements. Condolences may be made online at www. sossomanfuneralservice.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News & Observer on Jan. 26, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Dan Simpson

2 Entries

Jerry McBrayer

January 29, 2015

Dan Simpson and I “go back a ways”, as they say.
I just finished a memory book for my granddaughter which features him helping with a prank played on my son James and his friend Billy Martin who were about ten years old at the time. Dan is seen pointing to a treasure map revealing where a Pirate's treasure might be buried near his lake house.

Whether fishing off his boat dock with him or hunting with him near Linville gorge, Dan was always fun to be with. I was also enjoyed being alongside him when he helped Marshal Digh incorporate and franchise Mom and Pop's Ham House.
It's sad to see Dan go but good memories will last. My wife Audrey and I send condolences to Mary and the rest of Dan's good family.

T. Jerry Williams

January 26, 2015

I was surprised and saddened today to learn of Dan's passing. I considered him a friend and true public servant. While with the NC Restaurant Association I worked with him while he served in the North Carolina State Senate and on a number of administrative agency matters. I remember his great sense of humor and smile now as I remember some of his stories about the restaurant business and the General Assembly. I extend my deepest sympathy to his family. May he rest in peace. I'm confident others who read about his passing will share my sense of loss of a long-time friend. He will be missed by legions.

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