Roy Alton Simpson

Roy Alton “Al” Simpson, age 69, of Memphis, TN, died on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis. Al was born in Russellville, AR, on May 22, 1952. He was the son of the late Roy Hamilton Simpson and Lois Langford Simpson. He was a graduate of Russellville High School and Arkansas Tech University (Cum Laude) in Physics and Mathematics. Preceding him in death was his sister, Martha Faye Simpson. Survivors are his wife of 44 years, Barbara Moseley Simpson of Memphis, TN; his uncle Nelson Langford, Russellville, AR; his brother-in-law David Moseley (Dana), Russellville, AR; his niece Alana Moseley Graham (Taylor), Cabot, AR; his great nephew Samuel Graham, Cabot, AR; his cousins Ruth Ann Simpson, Albuquerque, NM; Sid (Nan) Simpson, Pekin, IL; Jeff (Kristina) Simpson; Delavan, IL., and many other cousins and friends.

He was a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, was an avid amateur radio operator since 1967, a member of American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. Al was the founding director of the Environmental Health and Safety Office at The University of Memphis where he was employed from 1990 until 2020. He successfully completed training in laboratory design, with emphasis on health and safety considerations, at Harvard School of Public Health. He was a Certified Hazardous Material Manager, Registered Inspector for analytical x-ray machines, was authorized by the State of Tennessee as a Radiation Safety Officer for multiple radioactive material licenses, and was a Certified Fire Department Instructor.

Al served on the Memphis/Shelby County Local Emergency Planning Committee; Institutional Biosafety Committee for the Memphis VA Medical Center; and Memphis FBI Office Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Explosives Working Group. He also served on UofM Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Policy Review Board, Compliance Council, Biological Safety Committee, Chemical Hygiene Committee, Radiation Safety Committee, Crisis Management Team - Operations Group, and Standing Committee on Safety.

In addition to employment at UofM, he worked in the electronics industry as a quality engineer, taught college level physics and mathematics courses, and served as a volunteer firefighter.

On a personal note, Al was devoted to his wife Barbara, with whom he shared a passion for gardening. They grew a variety of vegetables as well as flowers and plants. Over the years, he most loved collecting and growing different varieties of hostas. Al also shared his life with Miss Kitty, a black feline who wandered into their yard in the fall of 2010 and in time grew very attached to the gentle, kind man who loved her dearly. A regular churchgoer, Al was active in the Newman Sunday School Class. Not only did he sometimes offer incisive wisdom about the lesson, he could also bring uproarious laughter with clever puns that rolled off his tongue.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Memphis, TN. Prior to the Memorial service, a visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. at St. Luke’s. A private family burial will be at a later date in Russellville, AR. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 480 South Highland, Memphis, TN 38111.