Wayne A. Simpson; Ex-School Administrator

Wayne A. Simpson, a former Ventura High School principal and assistant superintendent, died Saturday at a Ventura convalescent hospital. He was 89.

Born on Jan. 19, 1911, in Eureka, he has lived in Ventura the last 65 years.

He earned several educational credentials and degrees, receiving his bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University, a master’s degree from Stanford University and a doctorate from USC.

During the 1930s, he taught at Lincoln Elementary School and Ventura Junior High School.

Simpson served during World War II as the commanding officer of a landing craft that participated in the D-day invasion of France in 1944. His craft transported 250 troops at a time and made more than 30 landings on Arromanche, Omaha and Utah beaches. He later became a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

After the war, he returned to Ventura and taught at Ventura Junior College. Later, he was appointed vice principal of Ventura Junior High School and then assistant principal of Ventura High School.

From 1953 to 1966, he was the principal of Ventura High School. He was then promoted to assistant superintendent of instruction until his retirement in 1974.

Simpson was a member of the Community Presbyterian Church since 1935 and served in many leadership roles, including elder of the church. He was also a past master of Masonic Lodge 633, past president of the Ventura Downtown Kiwanis Club, past state president of the California Assn. of Secondary School Administrators and a member of the Ventura chapter of Phi Delta Kappa.

In 1998, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bertha.

He is survived by son Richard of Thousand Oaks, daughter Marilyn Recupero of San Jose and four grandchildren.

Services are scheduled at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura with the Rev. Milt Davis officiating. Burial will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ventura High School Scholarship Account, c/o Ventura High School, 2155 E. Main St., Ventura, CA 93001.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.