William Golden Simpson
January 13, 1943 – January 29, 2017

William Golden Simpson, 74, of Roper, NC, died Sunday, January 29, 2017, at home, in the company of family. He is survived by his wife, Martha Blount Rodman Simpson, three children, and five grandchildren.

Born and raised in Plymouth, NC, the son of Roy and Mildred Simpson, he much preferred the Sea Scouts and football to farm work and the hot pit at "Simpson's BBQ." He won a scholarship to NCSU and played football on two ACC championship teams. Go Wolfpack! He loved the Albemarle Sound and was a happy Captain on any kind of boat. He helped coach football for many years at Columbia High School and Lawrence Academy. He worked for more than fifty years in the land, timber, and lumber business and enjoyed taking anyone who would go to the black swamps and deep woods. He enjoyed many close friendships from all periods of his life and left many great stories for friends and family to tell.

His son, William Golden Simpson, Jr., resides in Chapel Hill with his wife Susan and daughter Jade; his daughter, Elizabeth Davenport, resides with her husband Grant and sons, McCoy and William Grant in Kitty Hawk; and his daughter, Suzie Koonce, resides in Raleigh with her husband John and their two daughters, Helen and Liza. Unlike his three Tar Heel children, his oldest grandson William Grant followed him to State, and he held out hope for his other grandchildren.

His sister, Ann Simpson, resides in Raleigh. His sister-in- law, Helen Galligan, resides with her husband, Brian, in Ohio and their children Casey Galligan and Hunter Galligan. His sister in law, Edith Simpson, resides in Maryland along with her children Craig and Deron Simpson and Dana Kibler.

His older brother Leroy preceded him in death, as did a sister, Jean, and his parents Roy and Mildred.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at St Andrew's Episcopal Church in Columbia. Rev. William E. Smyth will officiate. Burial will follow at Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery in Plymouth. Immediately following the burial the family will receive friends at their home, 236 Bateman's Beach Road, Roper.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 615, Columbia, NC 27925.

Arrangements are by Bryan Funeral Service, Columbia.

Grace Episcopal Church

Wednesday February 1st, 2017

106 Madison Street
Plymouth, NC 27962

Funeral Service

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

Wednesday February 1st, 2017

2:00pm

106 North Road Street
Columbia, NC 27925

Special Instructions: In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 615, Columbia, NC 27925.