Donald Simpson Sr., a lifelong Alexandrian and one of the city’s leading philanthropists, died May 14 following a long illness. He was 87.

Simpson was the son of Eugene Simpson, co-founder of the Simpson Company, one of the city’s oldest and most successful businesses for more than 95 years.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Thursday, May 24, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 1608 Russell Road, at 1 p.m. A reception will follow at Belle Haven Country Club from 2-4 p.m. Burial will be private. Full obituary to be published next week.