Obituary for James C. Simpson
TROY With love and beautiful memories, we shared the passing of our husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather’s spirit on April 3, 2022.
JC was born on February 26, 1942 to Charles J. and Estella McGuire Simpson in Cohoes, NY (the old Central Market), as the second of 11 children. Jim attended St. Joseph’s school and Troy High School before entering the Marine Corps and serving in various US locations, as well as Okinawa and Iwakuni, Japan, and then returning to marry his high school sweetheart, Darlene Springer. Within their 63 years together, Jim and “Dee” added to their family 4 daughters, Jimene Wager (Don), Justine Simpson (Guy Cronin), Jessica Simpson (Troy Scheidecker) and Jillian Simpson-Lapham (Scott); 8 grandchildren Cody, Sam and Jaren Wager, Miranda Cole, Elizabeth Gregoire-Betts (Joshua), Lonna, Nathan and Alicea Scheidecker; and 3 great-grandchildren Skylar, Henry and Brantley.
Over time Jim was a training instructor at Castleton Fish & Game, starting the young group of Castleton Junior Rifle Club; Big Brother to the late Jimmy Quintel, a coach to his girls in Lansingburgh Miss Softball League, an unofficial foster of 6 children, and 37 year school bus driver at Golden Arrow, National School Bus and finally Star & Strand where he enjoyed transporting his many kids.
Jim & Dee traveled extensively covering 47 of 50 states and enjoyed cruises to Hawaii, Alaska and the Bahamas.
Jim is survived by 5 sisters, Estella “Bunny” Simpson, Kathy Crandall, Sandie Simpson, Donna Simpson and Joan Simpson; and 2 brothers, Robert (Carol) Simpson and Keith Simpson, and sisters-in-law Elizabeth St. Pierre and Marguerita “Dollie” (Reed) Forney. Also survived by a plethora of nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his parents and sisters, Jeanne (Frank) St. Pierre, Judy (John) Kennedy, and Linda Etman Gentner.
Jerry & Marge Weiand remained dear friends from Jim’s service time in Japan; sharing vacations and almost annual visits between NY and PA.
Relatives and friends may visit at the funeral home Wednesday from 4-7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. from the Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 105 Vliet Blvd., Cohoes and at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, Troy. Interment will follow with military honors in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Troy.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208 or St. Joseph’s Indian School, P.O. Box 326, Chamberlain, SD 57326
JC was born on February 26, 1942 to Charles J. and Estella McGuire Simpson in Cohoes, NY (the old Central Market), as the second of 11 children. Jim attended St. Joseph’s school and Troy High School before entering the Marine Corps and serving in various US locations, as well as Okinawa and Iwakuni, Japan, and then returning to marry his high school sweetheart, Darlene Springer. Within their 63 years together, Jim and “Dee” added to their family 4 daughters, Jimene Wager (Don), Justine Simpson (Guy Cronin), Jessica Simpson (Troy Scheidecker) and Jillian Simpson-Lapham (Scott); 8 grandchildren Cody, Sam and Jaren Wager, Miranda Cole, Elizabeth Gregoire-Betts (Joshua), Lonna, Nathan and Alicea Scheidecker; and 3 great-grandchildren Skylar, Henry and Brantley.
Over time Jim was a training instructor at Castleton Fish & Game, starting the young group of Castleton Junior Rifle Club; Big Brother to the late Jimmy Quintel, a coach to his girls in Lansingburgh Miss Softball League, an unofficial foster of 6 children, and 37 year school bus driver at Golden Arrow, National School Bus and finally Star & Strand where he enjoyed transporting his many kids.
Jim & Dee traveled extensively covering 47 of 50 states and enjoyed cruises to Hawaii, Alaska and the Bahamas.
Jim is survived by 5 sisters, Estella “Bunny” Simpson, Kathy Crandall, Sandie Simpson, Donna Simpson and Joan Simpson; and 2 brothers, Robert (Carol) Simpson and Keith Simpson, and sisters-in-law Elizabeth St. Pierre and Marguerita “Dollie” (Reed) Forney. Also survived by a plethora of nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his parents and sisters, Jeanne (Frank) St. Pierre, Judy (John) Kennedy, and Linda Etman Gentner.
Jerry & Marge Weiand remained dear friends from Jim’s service time in Japan; sharing vacations and almost annual visits between NY and PA.
Relatives and friends may visit at the funeral home Wednesday from 4-7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. from the Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 105 Vliet Blvd., Cohoes and at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, Troy. Interment will follow with military honors in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Troy.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208 or St. Joseph’s Indian School, P.O. Box 326, Chamberlain, SD 57326