EXETER, N.H. — Walter O. Simpson passed away on Sunday, Dec. 5 in Exeter, N.H.

Walter was born in Starks in 1919, the oldest of five and the only surviving son of Hattie “Pat” (Oliver) and Ernest Simpson. He grew up and was educated in and around Farmington. He married Mildred Luce in 1941 in Winthrop and they were together almost 43 years, until her passing in 1984.

After graduating from Farmington High School in 1938, he went to radio technical school in Boston, moved to Springfield, Mass., following graduation and worked as a radio engineer for WSPR. He was later hired by Pan American World Airways and he and Mildred lived in Rio de Janeiro for three years. He also traveled to the Caribbean (the island of Saba) to erect towers for the airline.

They returned to the United States, where he served in the Navy for three years during World War II, continuing training as a radio instructor in Tennessee, Illinois, Florida and Texas, as well as serving as a radio instructor for the military. After his discharge in 1948, he and Mildred returned to Uruguay for Pan Am, until 1951 when they settled in the Boston area. They adopted their daughter, Evelyn, in 1957. He worked for Northeast Airlines in Boston until 1965 and they decided to return to Maine. He was a machinist for G.H. Bass until his retirement.

In 1991, he developed cancer and is a survivor thanks to the care he received at Dana Farber. Despite all he went through, losing his beloved wife, surviving cancer and many other life-changing challenges, Walt continued to live an active life in Farmington. He enjoyed gardening, canning (and generously sharing) vegetables and berries, and was an avid fisherman. His many friends and family could count on him to share what he had and visit each day, always restlessly checking his watch so he could return home.

He moved in with his daughter’s family in Exeter, N.H., when his house burned down in 2007. In these later years, he loved playing cards, watching his favorite TV shows, caring for his cats and bringing joy to anyone who was fortunate enough to meet him.

Walter is survived by his daughter, her husband, Steve, and his grandson, Nathan, all of Exeter, N.H.; cousins, Elaine and Paul Hodgkins of Westwood, Mass.; nephew, Jerry and his wife, Jeanne; several other nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces; and many beloved friends.