Harold Graves Simpson
1929-2021
Harold Graves Simpson, 92, was born on June 17, 1929, to Homer and Gertrude Simpson in Leavenworth, Kansas and passed away on August 9, 2021 at his Edmond home surrounded by his family.
He grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas, although during the Great Depression his family briefly moved to Brownsville, TX to work on his grandfather’s citrus farm. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Harold graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1947 and was in the ROTC program where he held the rank of Cadet Colonel. He also participated in ROTC while at the University of Kansas where he obtained a degree in engineering. Shortly after college, he married his first wife, Phyllis. He was then called to active duty in the Army Corp of Engineers and served in the Korean War as second lieutenant. After serving two years in the Army, he started working for Butler Manufacturing and obtained his MBA at the University of Missouri. He then went on to work at Star Building Systems before starting his own engineering and consulting businesses. Although Harold’s degree was in engineering, he was primarily a businessman and inventor. At the time of his death, he held over fifty patents.
Harold was the happiest and most optimistic person any of us have known. He was kind, gentle, and entirely without ego. He never worried about anything and always saw the brighter side of things.
Harold is survived by his loving wife Kathy of 35 years; four children, John Simpson, Jeanette Simpson, Laura Mickey and Jill (Swain) Krase; his sister Wilma Fleming; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Harold was preceded in death by his parents Homer and Gertrude Simpson, his first wife of 25 years, Phyllis, and sisters Helen and Janet.
Harold’s life is an example of kindness, grace and creativity from which we all can learn, and he will remain in our hearts until we join him again.
We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but feel they should not due to health regulations. To watch the service please click the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/NewCov.Edmond/?ref=page_internal
Harold hired me in 1974 to head up the manufacturing of a new roofing product that he had invented. I was very fond of Harold because of his intelligence and friendly manner. He was an amazing man.