George Simpson Obituary

George Simpson
February 9, 1945 - December 5, 2024
George Allen Simpson, age 79, a longtime resident of Wenatchee, WA, passed away on December 5th, 2024, following complications from a sudden illness. He was lovingly welcomed into eternity by his Lord and Savior and embraced by the wings of his beloved wife, Karin, who preceded him in death by eleven months. George and Karin shared an enduring, loving marriage for nearly sixty-one years, and together they raised three daughters.
George was born February 9th, 1945, in Hayward, CA, the youngest child of John S. Simpson and Marjorie A. (Kulhman) Simpson, both originally from Iowa. He was the cherished brother of two older sisters, Dorothy and Marcia.
Some of George's most formative years were spent at The Nazareth House Catholic boarding school in L.A., where he developed a strong sense of discipline, organizational skills, and deep faith-principles he carried throughout his life.In his teens, George moved to Iowa to live and work on his aunt and uncle's farm, learning every facet of farming from planting produce to raising livestock. He was also a proud football player for the Blue Devils his sophomore year at the local high school. George shared many colorful stories from those formative years with his family.
Returning to Southern California for his junior year, George attended Huntington Park High School, L.A., where he met a special classmate named Karin Olthoff. The two soon fell in love and married in 1963, the same year George graduated. Together, they welcomed three daughters: Katherine (1963), Pamela (1965), and Patricia (1969).
George began his career young, working for General Motors and Sears Roebuck & Co. before joining McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company in 1968. He rose swiftly from assembler to foreman, contributing to the production of the first DC-10 wide-body aircraft. In 1972, he and Karin decided to leave Southern California to start a new life in Washington State. Although George considered working for Boeing, he and Karin fell in love with the Wenatchee Valley and chose to settle there for good. George found initial employment with Foote & Mineral, then began a long career starting in 1973 at Kawecki Berylco/KB Alloys in Malaga, where he worked for 31 years before retiring in May 2004. He was an active supporter of unions, including IBEW, Aerospace, Aluminum, Steelworkers, and Foresters.
Despite a demanding work schedule at the plant, George always made family a priority by building traditions, taking annual family vacations, and sharing practical skills. He was a natural "Mr. Fix-it," teaching his daughters how to handle electrical, carpentry, and household projects (with duct tape often at the ready). He was very skilled at problem solving.
George's most enjoyable pastime was listening to music. He not only loved music of all genres, nationalities, and eras but also intrigued with music equipment tech itself. His other interests included science fiction television, movies, and reading the newspaper. He was ever fascinated by space, the unknown, and science technology.
George's legacy is one of faith, hard work, and a warm, ever-present sense of humor. He will be deeply missed for his stories, laughter, and unforgettable "huggers". His spirit lives on in the hearts of his family and friends, who will carry forward the memories and values he instilled.
George A. Simpson is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Karin (Olthoff) Simpson; his parents, John and Marjorie Simpson; his infant brother, Richard Simpson; and his sister, Marcia Hansen. He is also preceded by his brothers-in-law: Pete Hansen, Dietrich "Dick" Olthoff, Leonard "Red" Hollandsworth, and Felix Koch. His sisters-in-law: Sara Mae Olthoff and Renate Koch, as well as several aunts and uncles.
George is survived by his sister, Dorothy Hilborn and sister-in-law, Magda Hollandsworth. His loving daughters: Katherine J. Fife (Chris), Pamela J. Baltrusch (Loren), and Patricia A. McClenaghan (Brian). His grandchildren: Chris, Nick, Ben, Tara, Nathan, Samantha, Steven, Brandon, Sean, Mike. His great grandchildren: Anthony, Clayton, Natalie, Raydy, and Max. His wonderful nephews: Tom, Lenny, David, and Roy. His loving nieces: Jenny, Terry, Lorain, Lisa, Julie, Linda, Debbie, and Heidi. His caring cousins: Joe, Lucy, Paula, Frances, Rose, Peggy, Mark, Brian, Carter and close friend, Bill.
Celebration of Life for George will be Saturday, March 8th, 2025, with a service and fellowship reception to follow. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guestbook at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements by Jones Jones-Betts Funeral Home, Wenatchee, WA.