Percy Roy Simpson

Percy Roy Simpson was born on 16th, May of 1896, in Lowry, Minnesota.  His parents Robert and Marie were both born in Canada. When Percy was born, his father worked as a farmer, but as a child, the Simpsons moved back to Alberta, Canada, where Robert and Marie helped open a Sunday School at the Church of Christ in Ardley. Percy married Nellie Pierce in 1917, and the two took over the church in Ardley. Together Percy and Nellie had three children: Myrtle, Earl, and Donn. Percy earned a BA from Spokane University before attending WSC. 

Percy enrolled in WSC in 1924 to earn his master’s degree. At this time, he lived with his wife Nellie in Spokane, and appeared to take a break from ministry. While at WSC, he earned scholastic honors, which was for students who achieved “six hours of ‘A’, no grade below ‘C’ and 40 points.” He was also inducted into Phi Delta Kappa in 1925, an honors society for education majors. He graduated with his Master’s in 1926, with his thesis “The true-false form of examination in education and psychology courses.” After graduating, he went on to preach at the Disciples in Christ Church for seven years. Then, he spent three years teaching mathematics and religion at Spokane University.

When his brother in Alberta died, Percy moved back to Canada to take care of the farm that had been left behind. He enlisted in the Canadian Active Service in 1940, at the age of 44. He served as a Gunner in the Canadian Royal Artillery. He was killed in action on the 16th of April in 1941, in Beckenham, Kent, in England where he was stationed at the time.

Percy left behind both his parents, his wife Nellie, and two children, Myrtle and Earle. He has two burial sites. One grave is marked in the Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, UK, with the phrase “To leave in hearts we left behind is not to die.” His remains are in the Delburne Cemetery in Delburne, Alberta, where he is buried with his son, Donnie. Donnie passed away at the age of ten in 1938, after complications from a surgery.