Obituary for Burnard Simpson

Burnard W. Simpson

(July 24, 1924 – March 6, 2017)

Burnard W. Simpson, age 92, resident of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed away Monday, March 6, 2017 in Ponca City.

Friends and loved ones may pay their respects at Trout Funeral Home on Thursday from 4-8PM. Burnard’s life will be celebrated at a funeral ceremony held at 2:00 pm, Friday, March 10, 2017 at the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church with Reverend Cindy Riedel officiating. Following the ceremony, he will be laid to rest with U.S. Navy honors at Resthaven Memorial Park in Ponca City. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Burnard was born on July 24, 1924 in Cameron, MO to Jefferson Davis Simpson and Nancy Margaret Wilson Simpson in Cameron, MO. He was raised in the Cameron, MO area, attending Mirabile, MO high school before joining the U.S. Navy on June 6, 1944. He served in three theaters as a gunner before being honorably discharged in 1947. On July 18, 1945, he married his life-long companion Betty Lou Sparks. Betty and Burnard celebrated 71 years of marriage. Early in their marriage, Burnard moved to Wichita,KS to begin working for Beech Aircraft. For his first 14 years at Beech, Burnard was an “experimental machinist”, and his last 22 years were as a mechanical design engineer. After retiring he returned to Beech as a contractor. His final two and a half years as a contractor were for McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, MO. A notable achievement is that Burnard has a patent on file with the U.S. Patent Office which is mechanical, but does not involve aircraft. While he spent his career working with aircraft, he would also enjoy spending time rebuilding old cars, specifically a ‘36 Ford Roadster that his brother sold him, and a ’56 Chevy for his son. Additionally he enjoyed many woodworking projects. Burnard was always a man that recognized that the community is an element worthy of investment. After retiring to Ponca City in the late 90’s, Burnard was a long time member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, the Noon Lion’s club, the Ham Radio club, and the Ponca City Aviation Foundation. Above all else, Burnard loved his family and his best days were days spent with them.

Survivors include his beloved wife Betty of Ponca City, son Dr. Glen Alan Jason Simpson and wife Sharyn of Frisco, TX, brother Sam Simpson and wife Donna of Tulsa, OK, sister in law Joy Simpson of Cameron, MO, grandchildren Daniel Simpson and wife Nicole of Dallas, TX, and Krystin Lowe and husband Derick of McKinney, TX, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Jack Simpson.

In memory of Burnard, donations may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1904 N. Pecan Rd., Ponca City, OK 74604.

Source: Trout Funeral Home