Christian publisher, author, and editor Donald (Don) Howard Simpson entered his Lord’s presence on February 7, 2024. Don was the beloved husband of Becky, father of Abe (Darci) and Mara, and grandfather of Eleora. He is survived by one brother, Dick Simpson of Silver Spring, MD. Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Barry, and two unborn grandchildren. Don was a cherished friend to many. 

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on July 30 and given six months to live, Don chose to invest his last days deepening relationships with God, family, and friends. His gentleness, humility, brilliance, wit, and precision memory remained with him until the last days of his life. 

Don was born in Boston, MA, on November 3, 1943, the third son of Dr. Howard and Carol (Lyman) Simpson. Don was 2 years old before he met his father, who was stationed in Africa during the war. Don’s favorite childhood memories were from his time at the Simpson family camp on Birch Island in Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. The days on the island were a refuge from Don’s childhood struggle with dyslexia. Ironically, books and reading later became the great joys of Don’s life. 

After graduating from Wilbraham and Monson Academy in 1962, Don moved to Colorado Springs to attend Colorado College. During his year there, he met the young woman who would later become his wife, Rebecca (Becky) Woods. After leaving Colorado College, Don spent time working in New York City and Washington, D.C. One of the most profound events of his life was waking up early on the morning of November 22, 1963, to get a front-row spot at the funeral procession of John F. Kennedy. Don enjoyed living in D.C. with his older brother Dick, but his time there was ended by a draft notice from the U.S. Army in the spring of 1964. 

Don was sent to Ft. Dix, NJ, for basic training. Like all young soldiers of his day, he expected to be sent to Vietnam. Instead, the Army stationed him at a Hawk missile site near Nuremburg, Germany. He served there for two years. Don and Becky wrote letters during the time he was deployed and eloped a year after he returned, on August 11, 1967. The wedding ceremony took place at the county courthouse at 2 p.m. and was conducted by the same judge who had issued Don a $100 traffic fine that morning at 10.  Don and Becky settled in Manitou Springs, and Don began working at Systemation. He started in the mailroom in 1967, and before he left in 1976, he had worked his way up to vice president. Part of Don’s job was writing creative coursework for seminars the company hosted, which is how he discovered his love of writing. 

At the age of 29, prompted by his wife, Don read the Gospel of John and discovered that the truth he was searching for was actually a person: Jesus Christ. From that point on, Don’s life was centered on knowing Christ and making Him known. Don worked at World Evangelical Fellowship for two years before joining NavPress in 1978. During his nearly 40 years at NavPress, Don worked as advertising manager, editorial director, senior acquisitions editor, and senior developmental editor. He played essential roles in creating the books and resources NavPress is best known for: Discipleship Journal, The Small Group Letter, LifeChange Bible Study Series, The Christian Character Library, and The Message Bible. He worked with authors including Eugene Peterson, Dallas Willard, Jerry Bridges, Brennan Manning, Jan Johnson, J.P. Moreland, Paul E. Miller, Donald Miller, Michael Card, and Howard Baker. Many of those authors became good friends of Don’s. After editing Dallas Willard’s bestselling book Renovation of the Heart,Don went on to co-author Revolution of Character with Willard. 

Outside of his work with NavPress, Don served as The Navigators’ director of communications for six years. He was a certified spiritual director with the Benedictine Spiritual Formation Program. And perhaps the work dearest to his heart was founding and operating his own Christian book publishing company, Helmers and Howard, along with Kathryn Helmers.

Don was a deep thinker and observer. He read thousands of books over the course of his life. He casually quoted poets, famous authors, saints, and mystics—never to make himself sound smart, but only to share with others the wisdom he gained through his reading. Don cared deeply about other people and had regular breakfast and lunch dates with his many friends. Each person’s unique spiritual journey was especially important to Don. He nourished his own spiritual life with weekly Eucharist, which was essential to him. He attended First Presbyterian Church for many years, and, more recently attended Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. 

Though Don lived a life marked by pain—rheumatoid arthritis since the age of 39, a heart attack at 50, a rare spinal stroke at 69, and terminal pancreatic cancer at 79—he chose to love the life he was given. Through each traumatic experience, he learned to better trust in God and the work He was doing in Don’s conscience, will, mind, and heart. Don’s loved ones saw him choosing to deal with his decades of suffering faithfully, patiently, gracefully, and even joyfully. He sang hymns to God even until the very end. Don loved his family, his dogs, his work, his home, and his books, but more than anything, Don had a deep and abiding love for the Lord. We rejoice that He has all eternity to spend in His presence. 

Interment will take place at the Columbarium Wall at Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs. A remembrance reception will be held at the Carriage House at Glen Eyrie on April 28th, 2024 from 3:00pm-5:00pm. 

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the Simpson family at 6758 Silver Star Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80923. 

Memorial gifts can be made to The Navigators ( https://donations.navigators.org) in Don’s name (“NavPress acquisitions” under option 1 or “Where Needed Most” under option 2).

Don will forever live in our hearts and minds and we look forward to being with him again.