John SimpsonSimpson, Cmdr. John Burton (Ret'd) O.M.M. C.D. - 72, of Halifax, passed away March 6, 2012, at home. Born in Hantsport in 1939, he was the son of Erma Blanche (Walsh) and the late Austin E. Simpson.

Upon his high school graduation John was enrolled into the Navy as an officer cadet in the Venture Officer's Training Plan in Esquimalt, B.C. Of the 95 cadets enrolled in 1957, only 32 graduated. He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in 1959 and proceeded to HMCS Stadacona for the Lieutenant's Qualifying Course.

In 1961 he was posted to HMCS Cresent where he gained his Watch-Keeping certificate. Also that year he married Nancy Dickie and subsequently had two children, David and Jayne. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1963 and attended the Fifth Long Ops Course where he finished first and received the Westinghouse Award.

In 1967 the Simpsons headed west where John took his appointment of OpsO of the HMCS St. Croix and after six years on the west coast, they proceeded to Toronto to attend the Staff College. His seagoing career saw him serve 21 ships. The first of these was HMCS Ontario, Canada's last cruiser, and he commanded his last three ships, the HMCS Cowichan, Thunder and Assiniboine. John's seagoing career ended when he became diabetic.

In 1980, John was invested as an Officer of Military Merit and the next year he was promoted to Commander and posted to the Royal Navy's Staff College in London, England as a member of the directing staff. He returned to Halifax Maritime Command Headquarters as SSO MPERS and then was appointed as Area Commander of the Atlantic Recruiting Zone. In 1995 he retired as DCOS Doctrine and Plans in Halifax.

On September 30th, 2011 John and Nancy celebrated their 50th Anniversary with friends and family. Aside from his loving wife, Nancy, he is survived by his mother Erma Simpson-Wamback of Hantsport; his sister Shirley (Brian) Bishop also of Hantsport; his son David (Elizabeth) Simpson and granddaughter, Ashley of Tantallon; and his daughter, Jayne Simpson of Bedford and granddaughter Jennifer Huizen, who is persuing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the Atlantic Verinary College in Prince Edward Island.

Arrangements are entrusted to J. A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr., Halifax (902) 455-0531. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of his life will take place at a later date. Any donations can be made to the Canadian Diebetes Association or other charity of your choice. Please visit www.jasnowfuneralhome.com

(From The Chronicle-Herald, Halifax, NS)
 
 

Return to previous page