Archie "Hap" Dulaney Simpson

Archie Dulaney Simpson peacefully passed away at his residence in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at the age of 101. His life serves as a role model others should strive to emulate. He was a war hero who served in three wars. He was a pilot of the first order, and a Marine who served his country with distinction for 27 years. After his active-duty military service, he excelled in the civil sector in a second career. He was a wonderful son, grandson, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and a friend to everyone he ever met.  

As an active duty Marine Officer from 1942 until 1969, he served at MCAS, Cherry Point, NC; MCS, Quantico, VA; MCAS, El Toro, CA; NAS, Glenview, IL; NAS, Olathe, KS; NAS, Atsugi, Japan; Ping Tung, Taiwan; the Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Command in Hawaii; 1st Marine Brigade Kaneohe, Hawaii; and Headquarters of the Marine Corps. Hap attended the University of Maryland as part of the military Boot Strap Program and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He is the recipient of the following: Meritorious Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with three stars, the Legion of Merit, and a total of 30 Air Medals with eight stars which represents 300 combat missions in WWII and Korea.

Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Hap attended the Wall Street Financial School.  Thereafter, he started working as a stockbroker and later managed the Morgan Stanley office in Alexandria, VA. Retiring again in 1985, he devoted his time to one of the loves of his life – golf.  Hap’s love affair with golf began while he was a boy working as a caddie at the Lansdowne Golf & Country Club in Purcellville, VA and had seven holes in one with his last one at age 90. Hap’s other great loves were his faith, his parents, his siblings, his grandparents, Helen (his first wife after meeting at Shepherd College in WV), his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and Bobbie, his second wife.  

Archie is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Helen, of 55 years who died February 9, 2000, his second wife Roberta “Bobbie” Simpson, his brother Tommy, and his sister Betty. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Clark of Greenville, NC and his son, Steve Simpson of Dallas, TX; grandchildren Tim and wife Lisa Clark of Winston-Salem, NC, Julie and husband Scott Neeley of Lake Wylie, SC, and Katie Clark and husband Ben Gilles of Highland, NY; and four great-grandchildren, Nico Clark, Abigail Neeley, Avery Neeley, and Maya Clark. Archie’s final resting place will be with his wife Helen at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

Interment with Full Military Honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, beginning at the Old Post Chapel on Friday, October 22nd 2021 at 1 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to Hap’s favorite charities, Marine Toys for Tots (https://www.toysfortots.org/donate/forms/tribute/) or the Wounded Warrior Project (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org), by selecting the “in memory” option.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Archie "Hap" Dulaney Simpson, please visit our Tree Store.