Edward Otis Simpson

SIMPSON, Edward Otis "Ted," age 92, passed away March 1, 2025. Ted liked to joke, "I was born at an early age" and "my brother is an only child". Actually, he had two older brothers who predeceased him, Donald and Norman Simpson. He was also predeceased by billions of other people, most notably his English-born parents, Elsie and Alex Simpson. Ted was born in Petersburg in December 1932, moved to Richmond in 1942, and returned to Petersburg in 1959, after a two-year stay in New York City.

Ted graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and The University of Virginia, where he played varsity basketball and was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity.

Ted was a stockbroker for eight years, in New York, Petersburg, and Richmond. He retired from Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corporation, as a Management Trainer, in 1986, when the Petersburg plant closed. He completed his working life as a Functional Analyst with a defense contractor, Synoptic Systems.

When he wasn't occupied with his "day job," he had a mixed bag of interests and avocations: National Guard officer, coach of a church league basketball team, tennis player, president of two PTAs and other civic organizations, City Council candidate, and actor (appearing in several movies and at Swift Creek Mill and Fort Lee Playhouses). He was also active in his church: choir member, lay reader, vestryperson, and junior warden. Ted's greatest accomplishment was helping his wife raise three daughters.

Ted is survived by his wife, Marion; three daughters and their husbands, Suzanne Roberson (Dean), Keithley Duncan (Chun), and Stephanie Arnette (Roy) - all living in the Richmond area. He is also survived by two wonderful grandchildren, Cameron and Keithley Arnette; his cousin, Catherine Warnock, of Petersburg; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 11:00 am, at Christ & Grace Episcopal Church, 1545 South Sycamore St., Petersburg, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ted's name can be made to Christ & Grace Episcopal Church, at the above address.