1948
Richard
2016
Richard Calder Simerson
March 28, 1948 — April 8, 2016
Richard Calder Simerson 68 of Amarillo, Texas passed away at his home on April 8, 2016. A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Saturday May 14, 2016 at Schooler Funeral Home at 4100 S Georgia St, Amarillo, Texas.
Richard was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 28, 1948, graduated from Benton High School in Benton, Arkansas in 1966, attended Arkansas State Teachers College and Arkansas State University, and, received his B.S. degree from the University of the State of New York in 1982.He served in the US Navy as a nuclear-trained electronics technician and Reactor Controls Division leading petty officer aboard the nuclear fast attack submarine USS Hawkbill (SSN-666), as Nuclear Propulsion Plant Supervisor aboard the USS Seawolf (SSN-575), and, following his service in the Navy, worked in the nuclear industry throughout the US, most recently with the Pantex nuclear weapons assembly and dis-assembly plant in Amarillo, Texas.
He was an avid pilot and aircraft owner. After earning his FAA Private Pilot and Instrument ratings, he served for 20 years as a Search and Rescue/Disaster Recovery Mission Pilot in the Civil Air Patrol US Air Force Auxiliary, and, for the last 10 of those years served as Commander of the Amarillo, Texas Tigershark Composite Squadron. The Civil Air Patrol was Lt Col Simerson’s great love. He worked long and hard to complete the missions of the CAP and exerted every effort to insure that the squadron’s Cadet program was the best in the state if not the best in the nation. Many young graduates of the squadron’s Cadet program and the nation’s service academies thank Lt Col Simerson for his long and unwavering commitment to their success.
He was preceded in death by his mother Fannie Angeline Calder Simerson who passed away in Benton, Arkansas on August 18, 1981 and father Adam Howard Simerson who passed away in Benton, Arkansas on October 10, 1993.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Tigershark Composite Squadron, 11001 Baker St, Amarillo, Texas 79111. (Such 501(c)(3) donations are tax deductible.)
Richard was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 28, 1948, graduated from Benton High School in Benton, Arkansas in 1966, attended Arkansas State Teachers College and Arkansas State University, and, received his B.S. degree from the University of the State of New York in 1982.He served in the US Navy as a nuclear-trained electronics technician and Reactor Controls Division leading petty officer aboard the nuclear fast attack submarine USS Hawkbill (SSN-666), as Nuclear Propulsion Plant Supervisor aboard the USS Seawolf (SSN-575), and, following his service in the Navy, worked in the nuclear industry throughout the US, most recently with the Pantex nuclear weapons assembly and dis-assembly plant in Amarillo, Texas.
He was an avid pilot and aircraft owner. After earning his FAA Private Pilot and Instrument ratings, he served for 20 years as a Search and Rescue/Disaster Recovery Mission Pilot in the Civil Air Patrol US Air Force Auxiliary, and, for the last 10 of those years served as Commander of the Amarillo, Texas Tigershark Composite Squadron. The Civil Air Patrol was Lt Col Simerson’s great love. He worked long and hard to complete the missions of the CAP and exerted every effort to insure that the squadron’s Cadet program was the best in the state if not the best in the nation. Many young graduates of the squadron’s Cadet program and the nation’s service academies thank Lt Col Simerson for his long and unwavering commitment to their success.
He was preceded in death by his mother Fannie Angeline Calder Simerson who passed away in Benton, Arkansas on August 18, 1981 and father Adam Howard Simerson who passed away in Benton, Arkansas on October 10, 1993.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Tigershark Composite Squadron, 11001 Baker St, Amarillo, Texas 79111. (Such 501(c)(3) donations are tax deductible.)
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