John "Jack" Lewis Eppley, 84, of Sipesville, Pa. passed away Thursday, June 5, 2008, at Centre Crest Nursing Facility, Bellefonte, Pa. Jack was born on January 22, 1924, in the Morrellville section of Johnstown, Pa., a son of the late Clifford R. and Helen A. Heffley Eppley.
Mr. Eppley was a World War II Navy veteran with experience in radar operations, mechanics, and gunnery. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in chemical engineering. Jack took a position with Air Reduction Corporation in New Jersey, where he worked for eight years until choosing a more challenging career as a high school chemistry teacher starting out at Bound Brook High School. The majority of this career was spent at Hunterdon High School, Flemington, New Jersey where he taught for 27 years. His students will attest he was a stickler for details and playing by the rules.
He was active in NJEA, teacher's union, Republican party, and member of the B.P.O.E. and the Civil Defense Coordinator for Somerville, New Jersey in the late 1950s. Later when he moved to Sipesville, Pa. he attained membership as a 32 degree Mason and was active in the local Lions Club. Over the years, he was an avid fisherman, baseball player, and lover of poetry, in which he could recite from memory with ease, a melodic whistler, and impromptu singing virtuoso.
Jack is survived by his wife, Shirley Miller Eppley, of Sipesville, Pa., daughters Susan C. Landrith (Lee) of Sparks, Nevada, and Claudia E. Wilson, of Bellefonte, Pa.; a brother, Eugene Eppley (Alice) of Johnstown, Pa.; 3 grandchildren, including Keira L. Wilson, and 2 step-children and 5 step-grandchildren. He also leaves behind two good friends, Peggy Eppley, and his best pal and dog, Taffy, of Flemington, N.J.
Arrangements are under the care of the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Services. A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family with interment at Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Centre Crossings Hospice c/o Centre HomeCare, Inc., 2437 Commercial Blvd, #6, State College, PA 16801 or to Centre Crest Nursing Center, 502 E. Howard St., Bellefonte, PA 16823.
A guestbook can be signed at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com