Richard Kendall Simpson

Richard Kendall Simpson was born August 31, 1931 in Albany, Georgia. He was the youngest of 3 sons born to John Elsie Simpson and Daisy Kendall Simpson. He spent his childhood in Albany and began attending the University of Georgia at age 16 on an ROTC scholarship. While a student, he married his high school sweetheart, Juliet (Jetta) on September 1, 1951. After graduation, he received his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force and was abruptly transferred to Korea.  Richard and Jetta had 2 children, Rick and Debbie. He continued his 20 year career primarily in the mid west and Tokyo, Japan. He retired in May, 1974 with the rank of major.

He is preceded in death by his parents; John Elzie Simpson and Daisy Kendall Simpson, brother; John Elzie Simpson.

He is survived by his brother; James M. Simpson (JoAnn), son; Richard Kendall Simpson Jr (Jody), daughter; Deborah Simpson Severtson (Steve), grandson; Stevan Geoffrey Severtson (Lucia), grandson; Jeremy Severtson, grandson; Richard Kendall Simpson III (Meghan), granddaughter; Dorothy Anne Simpson, grandson; William Edgar Rowsey Simpson,                    great grandson; Van Severtson, great granddaughter; Juliet Rose Severtson.

Richard and Jetta fell in love with Santa Fe during a family camping trip in 1972. He bought one of the first homes in El Dorado in 1973. In 1974 he began a career in real estate in Santa Fe that lasted over 20 years, except for a brief 3 year hiatus in Augsburg, Germany where he was a substitute teacher on an Army base. After completing his real estate career, he settled into retirement with Jetta. He stayed very busy with his retirement activities.

Richard was a wonderful son, husband and father. He loved his bride, his mom and dad, his kids, anything Hemingway, “The Sun Also Rises”, tennis, running. skiing, the Episcopal Church, Pat Oliphant’s cartoons, parties, extended family, train whistles, pheasant hunting, MG-Bs, Spitfires and Sprites, anything Air Force, B-17 Flying Fortress, P-40 Warhawk, piloting, fried chicken, Tokyo, Key West, Augsburg, Hickam Field, Mount Fuji, the Autobahn, dogs and cats, camping, RVing, the Maroon Bells, The Shed, the Jitterbug, Mancini, Brubeck, Jobim, Sinatra, Hope and Crosby, Bogart, Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, the Golden Girls and M.A.S.H.

Richard made friends easily and was loved by them. He kept in touch with his friends, even those from high school. Over the years, phone calls, letters, Christmas cards and visits from his friends and family were a regular feature in his life. Like his family, all will miss him very much. He was the best of the best in every way.

Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery located at 501 N Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501 on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 11:15 a.m.