Baker City, Oregon
Dr. Charles D. “Chuck” Simpson, 66, a longtime Baker City resident, died April 23, 2003, at his home.
His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1995 Fourth St. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate. There will be a reception afterward in Rogers Hall.
Charles Daye Simpson was born July 29, 1936, at Montrose, Colo. The family moved to Idaho in his early years and he was raised and received his schooling at Caldwell and Idaho Falls, Idaho.
He continued his education at Idaho State at Pocatello and then went on to Pacific University at Forest Grove where he received his degree in 1960 and doctorate in optometry in 1961.
On May 7, 1960, he married Verjean Rancore at Forest Grove. On July 25, 1961, he entered the U.S. Army and served his country for three years as an optometrist.
He was honorably discharged at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., in July of 1964 at the rank of 1st lieutenant. He came to Baker City in 1964 after his discharge from the army.
He began his career as an optometrist in Baker City and purchased a practice at 2011 First St. in 1964. In the early 1980s he and Dr. Steve Tronnes purchased Baker Vision Clinic from Drs. C. A. House and C. E. Cummins at the present building.
In 1986, he offered a partnership to Dr. Sheryl Blankenship. He retired from his business in 1996.
Chuck was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder and deacon, Baker City Lion’s Club, Baker Historical Society, Community Concerts, and Crossroads. He was a past Salvation Army Advisory Board member, past Boy Scout leader, past Meals On Wheels driver, past Head Start Board member, past City Council member, past Chamber of Commerce Board member. He also had been a member of the Baker Jaycees, the Optometric Association, was a past president of Eastern Oregon Optometrist Association and a longstanding member of the Senile Businessmen’s Association Coffee Group, and served as a docent for Geiser Grand Hotel Tours.
In 1968 he received the honor of being named Young Man of the Year and in 1990 Baker Vision Clinic received the Baker County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Simpson of Baker City; his daughters and sons-in-law, Jill and Dan Harlan of Lakeview and Christy and Scott Swindlehurst of Unity; a sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Craig Crooks; a nephew, Matthew of Virginia; an aunt, Dorothy Bragg of Baker City; grandchildren, Zackery and Ginna Swindlehurst of Unity; Nathan, Nick and Jennifer Harlan of Lakeview; stepgrandchildren, Rory Swindlehurst and his wife, Kristal, of Fox and Ryan Swindlehurst of La Grande; and stepgreat-grandchildren, Shelby and Shea Swindlehurst of Fox; in-laws Dennis and Heather Rancore and Rose and Pat Neirenhausen; and former business partners, Steve Tronnes and Sheryl Blankenship.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Mildred Simpson.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, the Alzheimer’s Association or Pathway Hospice. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 28, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor