Gregory Allen Simpson, 75, of Brentwood, TN was welcomed into the
arms of Jesus on May 31, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Greg dedicated his
life to serving his family, his country, his work, and The Lord.
Greg was born in 1948 in Crookston, Minnesota to the late Jesse W.
Simpson and the late Muriel St. John. The third of four children, Greg
and his family moved to Tennessee in 1962. He graduated from Antioch
High School in 1966, and in 1968 he married Jane Marilyn Matthews.
Greg and Jane moved to Brentwood, where they raised their two
children and made Brentwood their home for 48 years. Greg graduated
from Middle Tennessee State University with BS and MS degrees. He
also received a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United
States Army War College. Greg began his flying career as a Medevac
Pilot in Vietnam and proudly continued his military career in the
Tennessee Army National Guard and Army Reserves for almost forty
years, achieving the rank of Colonel. He earned numerous
commendations for his bravery and leadership including the Legion of
Merit and four awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Greg’s
civilian career included serving in the Metropolitan Nashville Police
Department as an officer of the tactical unit and a pilot of its first
helicopter. He began working for Thompson Machinery as a pilot in
1978 and then became the Director of Flight Operations and later on
the Safety Director, retiring after 40 years. Greg attended Brentwood
Baptist Church, and in service to the LORD, he performed many safety
audits with JAARS at their flight operations centers around the world.
Believing in the LORD’s healing, Greg was a teacher in the REBOOT
Combat Recovery program.
Greg is preceded in death by his father; his mother; his sister, JoAnn;
and his brother, Morris.
Greg will be deeply missed by his wife, Jane; his daughter, Bethany
(Chris); his son Alex (Suzy); his brother, David; his grandchildren,
Alexandra (Noah), Hunter, Owen, Timothy, Annabelle, Lyla, and
Neely; and many dear friends and relatives.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, June
27, in Baskin Chapel at Brentwood Baptist Church. Visitation will
begin at 10 AM. A committal service with military honors will follow
at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at 2 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to:
JAARS https://www.jaars.org/give/
REBOOT Recovery https://rebootrecovery.com/donate/
WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME
