Fred Simpson

Fred A. Simpson SMITHFIELD - Retired U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Fred Angel Simpson, 64, passed away unexpectedly Monday, Dec. 27, 2010. Fred was born in Norfolk Nov. 28, 1946, the son of John Marvin and Iva Mae Stowe Simpson. Fred had fond childhood memories of Okracoke and Hatteras, N.C. He was passionate about the water and the outdoors and at an early age sitting on and fishing off his granddad's boat. Fred was an avid hunter and fisherman. Proudly serving in the U.S. Army, Fred served his country in a tour of Vietnam in 1968-69. He received the Meritorious Service Award, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm award. He also served in the Big Red No. 1 and the 575th Armored Transportation Unit, retiring in 1987 with 21 years of dedicated service. Fred then was employed civil service as a mechanic repairing heavy equipment and fire trucks at Fort Eustis/Fort Story and retired from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 2007, as a heavy mobile equipment mechanic A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Fred was preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Denise Simpson. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 42 years, Valerie Shaffer Simpson; his daughter, Sherry Simpson Steinhart and her fiancée, Robert Sale of Carrollton, and Fred "Freddie" Simpson and his wife, Barbara of Smithfield and his two grandsons, Evan and John Austin Simpson; a sister, Glenda Liddick; and brother, Russell Simpson. A service celebrating Fred's life will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, in Colonial Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the service. A committal service will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. The family expresses special thanks to Tim McLean and Joel Acree for their endless care and assistance in Fred's behalf and suggests memorial contributions to the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Dept. and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 117, Smithfield, VA 23431 or to the Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 77, Carrollton, VA 23314.