Frances Lorraine Simpson was born to Herbert E. and Marie Frances Stockman.
After graduation in 1944, Frances enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where she served as a Yeoman until 1947, obtaining the rate of Second Class Petty Officer.
After her discharge, she attended Mortuary Science School in San Francisco on the GI Bill until she met and married Harold Westley Simpson of Van Buren, Arkansas, in 1948.
While married to Simpson, they traveled while he served in the U.S. Navy.
In 1949, she gave birth to Robert E. Simpson, and in 1952, then followed Kenneth J. Simpson.
In the early 1960s, Frances arrived with her family in Ridgecrest, California, where she began her career with the U.S. Civil Service.
She worked at China Lake in the Weapons Division for 34 years, receiving numerous awards for her service.
Upon retirement, Frances joined Ridgecrest’s Police and Community Together (PACT), where she devoted nearly 20,000 volunteer hours to her community.
Frances received numerous commendations, citations, and awards for her PACT service, including a promotion to Captain and citations from two U.S. Presidents.
Frances loved Ridgecrest and expressed her love through her service with PACT. This came naturally, given her father was a career Boston City Police Officer.
Frances loved the brave and dedicated officers and staff of the Ridgecrest PD.
Frances was an adventurer. One of her happiest adventures was her travel with the Honor Flight to Washington, DC.
Frances was a long-time Lutheran Church member. She was an avid Scrabble player and made lifelong friends everywhere, including the Ridgecrest Police Department and her neighbors. Frances touched many lives.
Frances is survived by her sons Robert E. Simpson (Elaine) of Gales Ferry, Connecticut, and Kenneth J. Simpson (Mike) of Seattle, Washington, her brothers Herbert Stockman and John Brickett, and her very close friends who are family: Joe and Gail Dunn, Ray and Lori Benson, Lisa Coryea and Aaron miller and his family.
While no local services were scheduled, but was interned in the Bakersfield National Cemetery on April 4, 2023
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Ridgecrest PACT or the Ridgecrest Hospital Hospice Unit.