Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Stimpson graduated from Pomona College in 1941 and enlisted in the navy as an aviation cadet.
Flying Grumman F4F Wildcats from Guadalcanal in the summer of 1943, "Skull" Stimpson shot down six Japanese aircraft.
He remained with the squadron during its second combat deployment, flying Grumman F6F Hellcats from USS Hornet (CV-12) in the Western Pacific during late 1944.
Released from active duty in October 1945, Stimpson participated in the naval reserve program until 1956.
He was widely known as the genial, popular host of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, California, but maintained his interest in aviation.