Joseph Eldred Simpson Jr., 77, of Merritt Island, Florida, died Monday, November 21, 2016 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Joe was born on November 16th 1939 in Florence, Alabama, and attended St. Joseph's Elementary School and Florence Junior High. He was a 1955 graduate of Coffee High School, attended Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama), and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1963 with a degree in mechanical engineering. While in college, he joined the Naval Reserve and was honorably discharged in 1968. He was known as Joe to everyone who knew him after college, but was called Eldred by those who knew him before.
Joe worked briefly as a substitute teacher at Coffee High School before being hired by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He was initially employed at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and later transferred to the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. While at NASA he worked on Project Apollo (Launch Team for Apollo 11), Skylab, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the Space Shuttle program, and the International Space Station. Joe retired after 42 years of service in 2004. Ever the Alabama fan, he followed them with great enthusiasm.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Eldred Simpson and Mary Evelyn Hurst Simpson, and wife Barbara Gail Wetherington Simpson. He is survived by their two children, Greg (Mary) and Lisa, and his brother Bill (Grace). He will be interred alongside Barbara in Brevard Memorial Park in Cocoa, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to the American Cancer Society.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
5 Entries
December 9, 2016
Ken Fore
Lisa, Greg and Bill, We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Joe was a very good friend and co-worker and he helped me so much during my early years with NASA. We shared many good times boating,attending car races and enjoying mutual friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.
November 29, 2016
Ernie Camacho
Dear Lisa and Greg. Very sorry to hear the news. Your dad was a very special and caring man. He was liked and respected by his co-workers and the construction contractor workforce that he managed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
November 25, 2016
Miros Rodriguez
Dear Lisa - I'm so sorry for your loss. Joe was a wonderful person and a dear friend. While we worked together in Facilities Engineering, we became close friends and I will always cherish those memories.
November 23, 2016
Dear Lisa and Greg, We are so sorry about your Dad You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. It's been a long time since I have seen you, we were your neighbors for a few years. We lived at 125 for 30 years, before moving to Tennessee. Linnie and Gerald Walden
November 23, 2016
Thomas Simpson
Dear Bill, Greg and Lisa. So sorry to hear the news about Eldred. Remembering the great times we had at your place in Florence when we were kids. Sitting on the porch, going down the hill on the scooter, climbing the tree in your front yard. Can't remember Eldred climbing the tree, though. But boy was it hot in Alabama in June!
We will keep all of you in our prayers.
Very best wishes,
Cousin Tom and Karen Simpson
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