BENTON – Dr. Willis Richard “Dick” Simpson (86) passed away in his sleep on March 3, 2025, after a long battle with lymphoma.
Doc Simpson, as he was known to many, was born to Sarabel “Sally” Pemberton Simpson and Willis Richard “Dub” Simpson on February 16, 1939, in the same home on North Main Street of Benton, Illinois, where his mother was born in 1916. He graduated from Benton High School in 1956, where he excelled in both academics and athletics, earning a football scholarship to Vanderbilt University. While working his way through dental school at St. Louis University, he met his match in a young nurse from St. Luke’s Hospital. He married Lasalea “Lea” Chandler on June 8, 1963.
After completing his dental residency in Iowa City, the couple returned to Benton, where he practiced dentistry for more than 50 years. Doc was a vital part of the community, serving on the Rend Lake College Board of Trustees for 23 years acting as chairman during his tenure. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, supporting local charities and activities, seeing patients regardless of their ability to pay, and performing oral surgeries at Franklin Hospital. Dick was a member of the Masons, Shriners, Elks, and Boneyard Boccie Ball Club. He loved snow skiing, water skiing, hunting, fishing, golf, reading historical novels, and his life-long friends. Everyone who knew him loved him, but only those who spent time on one of his golf, skiing, or hunting trips really knows the hijinks he was a part of.
In 1994, Coach Simpson found his passion as the defensive coach for the Benton Rangers. Coach was famous for Wednesday night films at his house, going toe to toe with the boys on the field, and with Head Coach Jeff Roper, leading the Rangers to their first-ever playoff birth. He loved the game and the players more than anyone could know and missed it every day after he retired.
Dr. Simpson was preceded in death by his parents, wife, nephew, Benton Lee Chandler; niece, Sadie Marie Chandler; and infant grandsons, Nathan Simpson Morris and Triston Robert Morris. He is survived by his brother, William “Bill” Simpson (Vickie); three children, Marya Jayne Smith (Denny), Joelle Morris (Matthew), and Richard Chandler “Chad” Simpson; grandchildren, Cody Smith, Peyton Smith, Savannah Simpson, Amelia Morris, Rachel Morris, Willis Morris, Liam Simpson, Amy Smith Baker, and Reggie Smith; great-grandchild, Britney Wright; and great-great-grandchild, Forest Wright; niece, Elizabeth Chandler; and nephews, Damian Simpson and Christopher Simpson. He will be missed by countless friends, including Jim Kearney and David Hurley, who made Dick’s last years so much richer and easier.
Visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Benton, Illinois, from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 13. The funeral service will be held at the church at 4 p.m., with the burial immediately following at Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Dr. Simpson’s honor.
For more information or to send online condolences, please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com.
