Raymond A. Simpson, Jr.

Raymond A. Simson, Jr., 91, of Elizabethtown, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 21, 2019 at Masonic Village. He was the son of the late Raymond Sr., and Jeanette (Johnson) Simpson.

Ray graduated from Johnsonburg High School in 1945. Upon graduating he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served in WWII and supported an Army Ambulance division setting up MASH units. After the military, he attended and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Embalming, and worked in funeral service for a few years. Deciding on a career change he took and passed the entrance exam for the Underwriter’s Salvage Corps. While a member there, he took the entrance exam for the Cincinnati Fire Department. He received the 2nd position in the eligibility list, and was appointed in September 1952. Ray’s career took him to West Virginia, New York Florida, Maryland, and back to Ohio. He held many positions, including serving as professor for WV University Fire Training, International Association of Fire Chiefs, WV State assistant Fire Marshall, Florida Standards Council and State Fire College, University of Maryland Division Chief of MD Fire & Rescue Institute.  He retired in 1988 and returned to Cincinnati to live. In 2002 he moved to the Elizabethtown Masonic Village. He was just shy of 70 years as a Master Mason in James W. Brown Lodge No. 675, in Johnsonburg, PA. In 2008 he was honored when the International Order of DeMaloy elected him to the Legion of Honor, and was on the Advisory Board for that chapter in the Masonic Village.

He is survived by family: Eric and Kim Lundberg of Indianapolis, Victor and Barb Lundberg of Las Vegas, and Brenda Lundberg of Detroit, the children of his beloved late cousin Victor Lundberg Jr, and  close family friends, Robert and Margie Gregoire of Elizabethtown, Don and Tina Muterspaw of Elizabethtown and Marc and Francesca Muterspaw of Bainbridge, as well as many friends that became like family from the Masonic Village.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11AM on Monday, April 29, 2019 at the Sell Chapel of the Masonic Village, 1 Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022, with Chaplain Timothy Nickel officiating. Burial will follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Relatives and friends will be received from 10-11AM prior to the service. Arrangements have been entrusted to Miller-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, Elizabethtown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Masonic Village Hospice and mailed to Masonic Villages, Office of Gift Planning, 1 Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.FinkenbinderFamily.com

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