Harold Wilson Simon, 92, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully in his sleep in the nursing center of Indian River Estates of Vero Beach, on Aug. 1, 2015.
He is survived by three daughters, Dannielle Simon of Groton, N.H., Kathleen Leder Goelkel of Morgan Hill, Calif., and Karen Leder Wheeler of St. Petersburg, Fla.; sisters Esther Simon Herdeg of Hamilton, Mass., and Doris Simon Ritchie of Wilmington, Del.; three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and numerous unrelated “daughters” who all call him “Dad.”
He lost his beloved wife Ginny (Virginia Butterworth Leder Simon) to cancer in 2012.
Simon was born on March 12, 1923 in Wilmington, Del., to Ernest Allen Simon and Maggie B. Talley Simon.
He had a distinguished 26 year career as a Naval Aviator: he achieved the rank Commander, was qualified in numerous aircraft (including several Air Force jets), and was known as a just and caring leader.
After retiring from the Navy in 1967, he returned to Wilmington to work with his father at Simon Wholesale Florist, the family business. He subsequently was manager of several other wholesale growing operations before he retired for the second time and moved to Florida.
Services will be held Sunday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach, 1590 27th Avenue. The family suggests that those who wish to honor Hal’s life make memorial donations to either the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach, where he served as treasurer for six years (1520 27th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960), or the Wounded Warrior Program, (https//support.woundedwarriorproject.org).
