Bruce Philip Simpson, 92, of Kennewick, WA passed away peacefully on the beautiful sunny day of Saturday, February 20, 2016 at the Country Estates Adult Family Home in Redmond, WA. Bruce was born to Monte and Anna Simpson in St. Louis, Missouri on January 18, 1924. He was the second youngest of four children that included elder sisters Violet and Monica and younger brother Paul. In his youth, Bruce could be found happily skating the day away on the ice at the St. Louis Arena or Winter Gardens as well as boxing at the South Broadway Athletic Club. He loved to dance and was known to 'cut a rug' or two. As a young adult, he worked on the assembly line at the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation developing his love for planes. In 1945, he enlisted in the United States Army as a Communications Supply Technician. During his time of service in Naples, Italy he won the heart of Rita Maria Pia Bernard and they married on December 14, 1946. They settled in Belleville, Illinois and eventually moved to Kennewick, Washington where they made their home and built their life and family. Bruce supported his family by working tirelessly as a commercial truck driver for Pacific Intermountain Express. He always loved his homemade packed lunches of Italian rice balls while he was on the road. Bruce and Rita raised two daughters, Barbara and Rosemarie, who brought great joy to their lives. After Bruce retired from commercial trucking, he kept busy with his yardwork, fiddling in his workshop and playing golf. He loved to play with his grandchildren and later with his great grandchildren. Bruce also could often be found doting over his loyal canine companions, Max, Bob and Belle. In 2002, Bruce and Rita moved to Yakima, WA to be closer to their daughters' families. They had a loving marriage that lasted 58 years before she passed away in March 2005. Bruce enjoyed the last years of his life in Redmond, WA, close to his granddaughter's family. Bruce was a charming, engaging and gregarious man who was kind and warm to everyone he met. He developed many deep and lifelong friendships in his journey through life. Bruce was known for being a captivating story teller and having an endless bag of jokes. He was also the family meteorologist – always on top of the weather and driving conditions. Bruce was a man of principles who believed in the importance of hard work and perseverance and the power of friendship and family. He will be greatly missed by all of us that knew and loved him. Bruce is survived by his daughter Rosemarie Barner of Kennewick, brother Arnold 'Paul' Simpson; five grandchildren, Jillien (Jamie) Yu of Redmond, Daniel (Alexis) Juergens of Richland, Nicole (Adriano) Caldas of Santa Barbara, Kristin Cochran and Ezra Barner of Kennewick and four great grandchildren, Luke and Levi Juergens, Sofie 'Twinkie' Yu and Kai Caldas. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Violet and Monica¸ wife Rita Maria Pia Bernard, daughter Barbara Park and son-in-law Robert Park. Gravesite inurnment service will be Friday, March 11, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1401 S. Union, Kennewick, WA. Bruce's family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Veterans Association of America.