Salvation Army

Major Raymond Simpson joined the Salvation Army as a cadet on September 12, 1956, when he attended the School for Officer's Training (before it was known as the College for Officer Training). On June 10, 1957, he was promoted from a cadet to a probationary lieutenant and was stationed at the corps in Allentown as an assistant officer. On February 19, 1958, he was transferred to Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where he continued work as an assistant officer. During this appointment, he was promoted from a probationary lieutenant to a second lieutenant on June 10, 1958. From February 4, 1959, to June 30, 1959, Raymond was stationed as an assistant in charge of the Franklin Terrace Outpost. While he was stationed here, he married his wife, Gretchen Simpson, on June 12, 1959.

Now as a couple, Raymond and his wife were stationed back in Latrobe as corps officers from July 1, 1959 until June 13, 1961. During this appointment, he was promoted from second lieutenant to lieutenant on October 1, 1959, and then to captain on June 10, 1960. They were then appointed to Connellsville, PA, from June 1961 to September 1963 and then Pittsburgh (East Liberty) from September 1963 to August 1966. At this time, Raymond suffered a back injury which forced him to leave the Army until June 1967. Upon his return, he was stationed in Wilmington, Deleware, his home corps, from June 28, 1967, to Aug 8, 1967, as an assistant officer.

His first real appointment after his return was in West Chester, PA, where he was a corps officer from August 1967 until June 1973. Following that he was transferred to Shamokin, PA, from June 1973 until June 1978. During this appointment, he was promoted from captain to major on April 9, 1978. His first appointment as a major was in Lewistown, PA, from June 1978 to July 1986. During his time in Lewistown, he moved the corps from a condemned building on the Klondike to a building near the town's center. This building was given as a donation costing merely $1.

Following Lewistown, he was stationed in Reading, Pa, from July 1986 to June 1993, and then in his final appointment in Lima, Ohio, from June 1993 until his retirement in June 1998. He and his wife retired in Lewistown, PA.

Major Raymond Simpson
Rank	Major
Birth Date	April 28, 1936
Death Date	April 21, 2014
Relations	Major Gretchen Simpson (wife)
	Major Joshua Simpson (son)

Major Raymond Warren Simpson, 77, of Lewistown, died at 10:08 p.m. Monday, April 21, 2014, at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital. Born on April 28, 1936, in Wilmington, Del., he was a son of the late William R. Simpson and Elizabeth (Bryant) Mann. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Betty Jane Leauby and Mildred Adkinson, and a brother, Charles Simpson. Raymond is survived by: his wife, Gretchen (Presnell) Simpson, whom he married on June 12, 1959, his children, Kathleen Long and husband, Stephen, of Waynesboro, Nancy Yoder and husband, Daniel, of Lewistown, of Lewistown, Gretchen Peters and husband, Frank, of Stroudsburg, Captain Joshua Simpson and wife, Sunny, of Suffern, N.Y., Raymond Simpson and wife, Michele, of Aquasco, Md., and Christine Gross and husband, Robert, of Fremont, Ohio; 19 grandchildren; siblings, Barbara O'Neal, Lorraine Miller and husband, Jack, Georgia Megonigal and husband, Ted; and sister-in-law, Lynn Simpson. He was a graduate of Browns Vocational School in Wilmington and Salvation Army School of Officers Training in Suffern, N.Y., in 1957. Raymond served in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Major Simpson was a member and minister of the Salvation Army Church. He had served various appointments in the Salvation Army. After retirement, he continued to serve as a men's Sunday school teacher and prayer sergeant. He also played the cornet in the Salvation Army Band in his early years. He served as the Commander of the Lewistown Salvation Army Corps from June 1978 to June 1986. Raymond's greatest joy was his family. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed archery, boating, hunting, tinkering with vehicles, coolecting model trains and watching westerns and game shows. Raymond always loved to sing. He also was a black belt in karate and served asscoutmaster with the Boy Scouts. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, 2014, at Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Homes, Woodlawn, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown, with Captain David Means and Major Les Walter officiating. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 25, at the funeral home. Interment will take place in Church Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Major Simpson's name may be made to The Salvation Army, 9 Dorcas St., Lewistown, PA 17044