Thomas Wilbur Simpson

Thomas Wilbur Simpson, 88, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri died Thursday, March 22, 2018 at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. He was born December 12, 1929 near Puxico, Missouri to Edward Anderson and Mary Ann Elizabeth Simpson. He and Nelda Underwood were married August 8, 1953 at Bloomfield, Missouri. He graduated from Puxico High School in 1947 and received his Bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University. He served in the US Army Signal Corps as a Cryptographic Specialist in the office of Gen. Douglas MacArthur during the early Korean War. After college he moved to St. Louis and then to Mt. Carmel, Illinois, where he worked for Pacific Press and Shear Corp. until he resigned as Vice President in 1978. He and Nelda purchased McCuiston Distributing Co., Inc.; he sold that business in 1997 and retired to Cape Girardeau in 2003. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #239 in Mt. Carmel, the Scottish Rite of IL, the Ainad Shriners of IL, and was a 50 year member of the Institute of Management Accounts. He was also a Kentucky Colonel. While in Mt. Carmel he belonged to the First Christian Church, serving several offices. He also served as president of the local school board and as Southern, Illinois Representative of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. In Cape Girardeau, he was a member of Abbey Road Christian Church. Survivors include his wife, Nelda Simpson of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; two daughters, Judith L. Divan of San Juan Capistrano, California and Jane S. (Ralph) Smith of Smyrna, Tennessee; son-in-law, David Vandenberg; four grandchildren, Paul E. Divan (Jennifer) of Des Moines, Iowa, Nicholas J. (Jennifer) Divan of Saint Louis, Missouri, Benjamin D. (Shelley Bryant) Smith of Portland, Oregon, Jillian S. Smith of Saint Louis, Missouri; four step-grandchildren, Bastiaan Vandenberg (Alyssa), Virginia Vandenberg, Nathaniel Vandenberg and Ari Vandenberg all of California. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Jari Vandenberg, five brothers and two sisters. Visitation will be 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at Abbey Road Christian Church in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at the church with the Rev. Doug Jobe officiating. Burial will be 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield. Memorial contributions may be given to Shriners Hospitals For Children or Abbey Road Christian Church Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com. Ford & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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Thomas Wilbur Simpson

December 12, 1929 - March 22, 2018