William H. "Billy" Simpson

William H. “Billy” Simpson, Sr., 81, died peacefully at Good Shepherd Hospice on Nov. 3, 2022. Billy was born in Bartow, FL on Aug. 4, 1941. He graduated in 1959 from Bartow’s Summerlin Institute, where he met his wife of 63 years, Carolyn Garcia Simpson and together, they raised their own family in their beloved hometown. It was during these formative years that Billy also developed a deep love for the City of Bartow, setting the stage for years of dedicated service to the community. Billy, a graduate of Polk Community College, was truly a self-made man, beginning a career with IMC Phosphate and rising through the ranks to eventually retire as a senior executive. Post retirement, he worked for TECO Shipping as a transportation and logistics professional and later served as a business development consultant for several locally owned companies. Throughout his long, successful career, Billy was also serving the community he loved so well. As a young man, Billy was involved with the Jaycees and that service led to involvement and leadership roles with other community organizations, including the Bartow Lion’s Club, the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce (Board member and President), the Youth Villa Classic (Chair), the Peace River Country Club (President) and many years as a Sun ‘n Fun volunteer. Billy’s dedicated public service was extensive and included three terms as a Bartow City Commissioner (1978, 2016, 2019). He also served, twice, as Mayor and still holds the distinction of being Bartow’s youngest Mayor. As a City Commissioner, Billy also served on the Bartow Airport Authority and represented the City on both the Central Florida Development Council and the Polk Regional Water Cooperative where he had a significant role in helping ensure water supply for the future. Additionally, he served 36 years as vice-chair of Bartow’s Fourth of July Committee, the group that plans and executes the City’s annual Independence Day fireworks. Billy also served for several decades as a volunteer firefighter and was Chair (3 years) for the Volunteer Firefighter Committee – the group that raised funds to purchase and install the 8-foot tall bronze public art statue that sits between the Fire department and police station to permanently honor all those who served during the 96-year legacy of Bartow’s volunteer fire department. Even though Billy held many important leadership positions throughout his lifetime, he remained humble and often expressed how blessed and honored he was that Bartow voters had enough confidence and trust in him to elect him to the City Commission multiple times. A major source of pride for Billy was that even during his 10+ year battle with cancer, he rarely missed a commission meeting or commitment and he also held extreme gratitude for the unfailing support of his fellow commissioners and Bartow staff during his journey. Billy believed any success he enjoyed was due to his strong values and taking his daily life walk with these priorities, faith, family, and service to others. In his leisure time, what there was of it, Billy enjoyed boating, golfing, playing tennis, car racing, spending time at the beach or in the mountains, dancing with his best girl, entertaining friends and loved ones at the Simpson home and pulling for the Bucs and Gators. Billy is predeceased by his mother, Myrtice Jones and father James Simpson, Sisters Sandy S. Norris and LaDonna Sayes and Brother Jimmy Simpson. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn G. Simpson, daughter Deanna S. Gibson (Clyde Allen – deceased), son William “Hank” Simpson, Jr. (Julie), grandchildren Anna Mae Gibson Akers, William A. Gibson, William “Alec” Simpson and Olivia Simpson, sister Maudel J. Hughey, brother Wally “Jerry” Simpson, sister-in-law Linda Cipolla, several nieces and nephews and extended family members Beth Creasy Nave and her sons, Scott and Austin. A family visitation will be held Sunday, Nov. 13 from 2-4 p.m. at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, 650 E. Main St. Bartow. A Celebration of Billy’s remarkable life is set for 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14 at his home church -- Associate Reformed Presbyterian, 205 Stanford St. Bartow, FL. Flowers are welcome, but the family respectfully asks that you consider a donation in Billy’s memory to Good Shepherd Hospice 3470 Lakeland Hills Blvd. Lakeland, FL 33805.