Debbie Schwarz Simpson, 82, of White Sulphur Springs, WV, passed away in a Fredericksburg, VA, hospital on Tuesday morning, February 9, 2016.
Born April 25, 1933, in White Sulphur Springs, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Beatrice “Bea” Schwarz.
Debbie was a member of the Emmanuel United Methodist Church in White Sulphur Springs. She graduated from White Sulphur High School in the Class of 1951, was a honor graduate of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, with a B.A. degree in journalism, and began her professional career on the public relations staff at The Greenbrier. She was a former English and journalism instructor at her alma mater, White Sulphur High School, and was a freelance journalist for area newspapers and magazines.
She wrote for the White Sulphur Springs Star until it and the Greenbrier Independent were absorbed into The West Virginia Daily News in 1986. Her mother, Bea Schwarz, wrote a column called “Town Talk.” When her mother was unable to continue the column, Debbie took it over, but retained her mother’s byline. The column was printed in The Daily News as “Town Talk” and in the Greenbrier Valley Ranger as “Rangin’ Around.” She also wrote for the Register-Herald and the Charleston Gazette. Debbie wrote “Backward Glance: The World War II Years” which was patterned after similar books published by her on White Sulphur Springs and the State Fair of West Virginia. She had a very dynamic personality and was a very civic-minded person, as shown throughout her personal and professional life. Debbie took interest in the whole area and state, but her heart remained in White Sulphur Springs.
Survivors include her children, Henry Simpson (Laurie) of Fredericksburg, Darin Simpson (Michelle) of Afton, VA; and eight grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at 11 AM on Monday, February 15, 2016, at Hillcrest Cemetery in White Sulphur Springs with Pastor Shari Stilgenbauer officiating.
Visitation will be on Sunday, February 14, from 2-5 PM at the Shanklin Funeral Home in White Sulphur Springs.
Shanklin Funeral Home is serving the family.
Obituary originally published in the February 12, 2016, edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
