Age 31. 938 17th Avenue S.E., Minneapolis, MN. Born 11/28/1911, in Minneapolis. Died of burns (death certificate). Lieutenant (junior grade), U.S. Naval Reserve, studying at the Naval Training School (Communications) at Harvard University (under the Defense and War Training Program of the U.S. Office of Education). One of four student officers of the Harvard Communications School dead, all in the last two months of training (also Ensign John Albritton, Sr., age 28, Ensign John Bauer, age 27, and Lieut. John Noyes, age 39, all U.S.N.R.). Three others survived (Ensign A. Perry Gordy, U.S.N.R., age 30, Ensign L. Eugene Jessup, U.S. Navy, age 27, and Lieut. Thomas Smith, U.S.N.R., age 36). Was reported in the 11/30/1942 First Naval District fire inquest as attending the Grove with the above Ensign Albritton. Naval confirmation of his remains were: "...made by dental verification..." (First Naval District inquest transcript, 11/30/1942). "Two hours before the fatal fire, Simpson telephoned his Minneapolis home and received birthday greetings from his parents" (Minneapolis Star-Journal, 11/30/1942). Was a graduate of Hamline University, Saint Paul, MN, 1933. Earned a degree from the University of Minnesota in 1934. Was engaged, fiancée Miss Betty Lu Priester, age 22 (Born 12/11/1919. Married in 1947. Died as Betty Lu Close on 7/26/2001, in Bloomington, MN, age 81), of Minneapolis. Fiancée was not present. Occupation (1940 federal census): funeral director, own business. Was the oldest of four Grove victims to perish on their own birthdays (also Miss Margaret McDonagh, age 21, Mrs. Josephine Powell, age 29, and Miss Doris Rosenbaum, age 19). Shown as "Kenneth H. David Simpson" (phantom extra middle initial) on the final official November 1943 Boston Committee on Public Safety master list of casualties. Was the lone Grove fire casualty from Minnesota. Parents Mr. and Mrs. William J. and Louise R. (Radzom) Simpson, same address. Burial at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis. Middle name David.

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