William H. Simpson

YORK William H. Simpson, 70, died peacefully at home with his family by his side on Thursday, May 10, 2012, following a courageous battle with ALS. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Judith Anne (Morecz); his children, Elizabeth Simpson of Boston, Mass., William Simpson, Jr. of Atlanta, Ga., and Jeffrey Simpson and his wife, Jennifer of Granby, Conn.; and his four grandchildren, Emma, Kaite, Bennett, and Graham. William is also survived by his four siblings, Robert Simpson of Boulder, Colo., Thomas Simpson and wife, Ann of Arlington, Va., Mary Cluff of Winthrop, Maine, and Ruth Warwick and husband, James of Islamorada, Fla. William was born on December 16, 1941 in Ithaca, N.Y., and was the son of the late Harold and Elizabeth (Lucey) Simpson of Ithaca and Cape Cod, Mass. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1963 and served as an officer in the Air Force from 1963 to 1971. As the first Air Force Academy cadet granted a leave of absence to attend law school, he earned his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1966 before returning to service in Bitburg, Germany. William began his career in York in 1971 as counsel with Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co. where he forged a 40 year career with the company, eventually serving as President of Manufacturing at Pfaltzgraff and later CEO of Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co. from 2002 to 2006. Since 2006, he has served with the organization as Vice Chairman of Susquehanna Real Estate. He has long been a local community leader serving on numerous not-for-profit organization boards over the past four decades. He was most recently a board member at Crispus Attucks, Cultural Alliance of York County, York Academy Regional Charter School, York County Heritage Trust, Penn Business Council, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry and the Pennsylvania Economy League. He previously served as the Council President of the York-Adams Area Boy Scouts of America and as Campaign Chair for the United Way of York. His service also extended to the Air Force Academy community where he was an active member of the USAFA Association of Graduates and a Founding Board Member of the USAFA Endowment. William was a Board member of several York-based companies at the time of his passing, including Codorus Valley Bancorp, New Standard Corporation, Pace Resources, and Perform Group. He combined his passions for Civil War history and railroads to found Steam Into History, Inc., a not-for-profit organization established to construct and operate a Civil War era replica steam engine and train for locals and tourists which will travel through Southern York County beginning in 2013. He enjoyed spending time with his extended family on Cape Cod, boating, fishing for blues and rooting for the Air Force Falcons and Baltimore Ravens. He touched the lives of thousands of people and is currently in Heaven listening to the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up", attending a board meeting and enjoying a warm McDonald's apple pie. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Steam Into History, Inc., 221 W. Philadelphia St., Suite E600, York, PA 17401; to the William Simpson Fund for Community Advancement at the York County Community Foundation, 14 W. Market St., York, PA 17401; or to a charity of your choice. A memorial mass will be held at St. Patrick Church, 231 S. Beaver St., York, at 11 a.m. Monday following family visitation hours at the church from 9 to 11 a.m. Etzweiler Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 1111 E. Market St., York 17403 is in charge of arrangements. www.etzweiler.com