Thomas E. Simpson M.D.

1932 - 2025

Thomas E. Simpson, MD

Jul 31, 1932 - Nov 2, 2025

I'll Fly Away..…

If it could be said of anyone, it could be said of Tom Simpson, who would not die but fly away in his own plane. After 93 years this pilot boarded his plane for the last time and joyously flew away, Sunday, November 2, 2025. Tom was born July 31, 1932, to Estelene and Allen Simpson, in Kings Mountain, SC, but grew up in rural Waxhaw, NC, helping his mother and father run the Simpson Country Store for many years. He was the oldest of five siblings. At a very young age his father arranged a plane ride for him, and he instantly fell in love with flying. After many hours of flying he achieved the rating of captain, enabling him to fly larger planes. He took his family to see the world with this accomplishment. In recent years he received the Master Pilot Award, coveted by many pilots, representing at least 50 years of perfected piloting. He was fortunate to own and pilot several planes. Medicine was also his passion and his career. After graduating from Wake Forest College, he graduated from Bowman Gray School of Medicine in 1957. For the next 7 years he practiced family medicine with Dr. Jack Fowler in Walnut Cove, NC, in the days when house calls were common practice, as well as patients knocking your windows in the night and doctor bills often paid with produce. In 1965 he aspired to train as a surgeon and was accepted in the surgery training program at Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota. In 1969 he returned to Winston-Salem with his family and opened his own surgical practice. For the next four decades, his skills were sought after by his colleagues as well as his patients (many of whom he had delivered in Walnut Cove). In 1984 he married Martha Ann Kilby who was in her first year of medical school. Together they raised a family of three children along with the help of her beloved mother, Ruby. They both had very satisfying medical careers and after retiring from surgery, he opened an Opiod Dependency clinic for treatment of those struggling with addiction. In 2019 Martha joined him in this practice and eventually assumed leadership of this clinic when his health no longer permitted practice of medicine. The many pleasures he enjoyed included family gatherings, good red wine and a steak cooked "barely", skiing with "the guys", traveling to unusual places, hunting parties and trips, eating out, fast sports cars, anything French including Paris visits, spending time at their second home in Alleghany County and hanging out with his buddy, Sandy, at the Elkin airport. He was a voracious reader and kept up with medicine by reading medical journals as long as he could. He was proof that giants come in all sizes.

Tom was preceded in death by his beloved sisters, Betty Jo Medlin and Barbara Norwood and his dear friend, Tom Shown. Surviving are his wife of 41 years, Martha Ann; 5 children – Stephanie Simpson, Janet Burton (Clint), Allen Simpson, Charlie Simpson (Rachel) and Jackie Marks (Ismaal). Eight grandchildren: Jake Burton, Ross Burton, Devin Burton, Grace Burton, Thomas Burton, Charlotte Simpson, Maddie Simpson and Rubianne Marks; one great-grandchild, Liam Burton. Also surviving are his sisters Mazie Mangum (Gary) and Marlene Little (Danny). There are countless nieces and nephews, all of whom cherished their Uncle Tommy.

At Tom's insistence, we will celebrate his life with "a party with lots of good wine", food and stories at Forsyth Country Club, Sunday November 9, 2025, 2pm to 5pm. All are invited to his flying away party. In lieu of flowers, if one wishes to send a memorial, please consider First Baptist Church, N. Wilkesboro (510 D Street, N Wilkesboro, NC, 28659) where he has loved to attend in recent years and from which he and Martha Ann have received much support, or Trellis Supportive Care (101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103). Condolences may be shared online at www.salemfh.com

Salem Funeral & Cremation Service

120 S. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101