James Delzon Simpkins

James D. Simpkins of Bellevue, Washington passed away peacefully on January 6, 2011 surrounded by his family. Jim was born on November 22, 1932 in Bronxville, New York. Jim grew up in New York where he played high school hockey and was an Eagle Scout. Beginning in 1953 and for two years Jim was in the Navy and served as Corpsman stationed at St. Albans Navel Hospital in Queens, NY. He graduated from Columbia University in New York City with a degree in Pharmacy in 1956. Upon graduation from college Jim was hired by the Burroughs Wellcome Pharmaceutical company where he was a detail man covering the entire state of Montana. On February 22, 1957 Jim married Anna Marie Kaylor. In 1959 Jim’s family moved to Bellevue, Washington. In 1960 Jim left the pharmaceutical business and became a free lance photographer and was later hired by United Press International to run their Seattle photo bureau, his first assignment was to cover the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair for UPI. During his 15 year career with UPI Jim covered many news making events in the Northwest and around the world: 1964 Alaska earthquake; 1964 Republican National Convention in San Francisco; 1965 World Series in Los Angeles; the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City; 1969 voyage of the SS Manhattan through the Northwest Passage above the Article Circle; 1972 Sunshine Mine fire near Kellogg, Idaho. Jim also covered all University of Washington athletics, Seattle Pilots Major League Baseball, and Seattle Supersonics NBA Basketball. During Jim and Ann’s kid’s childhood years they were very active supporters of their children’s sporting activates. He loved taking action photos of his kids teams and sharing those photos with the families of team members. In 1975 when UPI closed the Seattle photo bureau rather then move to LA or NY Jim passed the Washington Pharmaceutical Boards and became a Pharmacist working at Newport Hills Drug, Lakeside Drug, and Safeway until his retirement in 1996. Jim is survived by his wife of 53 years Ann; son Phillip; daughter Sandy; son Jim and his wife Susan; and his grandsons, Scott and Trevor. A Celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 3pm on Sunday January 16, 2011 at the Newport Hill Pool Clubhouse located at 5464 – 119th Ave SE Bellevue, WA 98006. Graveside committal Inurnment will be held at 2:30pm on Monday January 17, 2011 at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Alzheimer’s Association 206-363-5500.

Arrangements under the direction of Sunset Hills Funeral Home, Bellevue, WA.