William Eugene Eppard
September 05, 1932 - March 29, 2017
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William Eugene Eppard
September 05, 1932 - March 29, 2017
Obituary
William Eugene (Bill) Eppard, passed away March 29, 2017. He was born to Jesse and Madge Eppard, September 5, 1932 in Altamont, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jesse and Madge Eppard, wife Christine Eppard, sisters Mary Kay Greetan and Dixie Eppard, and brothers JT and Hershel Eppard.
He is survived by his daughter Lennie James of Bend, OR, son Jim Eppard of Belen, NM; brothers Jess Eppard (Judy) of Los Lunas, NM, Robert Eppard (Kaye) of Eucha, OK, Charles Eppard (Mary Lou) of Aztec, NM, Donald Eppard (Debbie) of Anton, TX; sisters Betty Lou Kirkuff of Torrance, CA, and Bonnie Sue Gensen (Jack) of Wilson, WI; and two grandsons and two great grandchildren, and several loving nephews, nieces and friends.
He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1952 – 1955, and retried from the Border Patrol after 20 years of service. Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling and playing music. After his neck injury, he continued playing music with this church friends. He will be missed by his family and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday April 6, 2017 at 1pm at Christ Community Church, 4310 H Street, Blaine, WA. Internment will be at Greenacres Cemetery in Ferndale, WA. The family would like to thank all the friends that provided care and love to Bill during his time of illness.
Funeral Service
- Date & Time: April 6, 2017 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Christ Community Church
- Location: 4310 H Street Blaine, WA 98230 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (360) 33-2-4392
Reception
- Date & Time: April 6, 2017 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Greenacres Memorial Park
- Location: 5700 Northwest Drive Ferndale, WA 98248 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (360) -38-4-3401
Committal Service
- Date & Time: April 6, 2017 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Greenacres Memorial Park
- Location: 5700 Northwest Drive Ferndale, WA 98248 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (360) -38-4-3401
10 responses to William Eugene Eppard
Kathi Schacher says:
March 29, 2017
I am so sad to hear of Bill’s passing. I had the pleasure of working with him at the Border Patrol in Blaine in the early 80s. We kept in touch off and on through the years, and I feel enriched to have had Bill as a friend. God bless the memory of this wonderful man. He has now joined the love of his life, Chris. My heartfelt condolences to Bill’s family as they say goodbye to him.
John Strauch says:
March 29, 2017
Bill was one of us; U.S. Border Patrol. He was a veteran U.S. Marine, American Patriot who put himself in harms way for the good of his Country. We were honored to meet his family and friends yesterday, and our sincere condolences go out to all. Rest In Peace, Bill.
Respectfully,
The men and women of Blaine Sector.
Jason Geddes says:
March 29, 2017
God bless you uncle Bill, rest now, until the resurrection when we will all be together again x Per Ardua
Wayne Patterson says:
March 29, 2017
Rest in Peace Bill I hope you and Chris have a great eternity.
Lennie James says:
March 29, 2017
He always bought me the prettiest dresses! I wanted a puppy, he got me a puppy! A lamb- SHAZAM! Horse- you betcha! White chocolate from “C’s”- of course!! He hated what black licorice ice cream did to my mouth, but of course he let me have it anyway when we went to “Big Scoop”!! I have a beautiful antique amethyst ring (my favorite color for a very long time) that he proudly bought me in England that I absolutely treasure! He taught me to shoot a gun beginning when I was 8 or 9 in his office shooting range there on H Street! He taught me to ski and took my girlfriends and I back and forth to Mt Baker!
When I was really little my brother and I would spend Christmas’ in a motel with him (they divorced when I was a year and a half) and he would ALWAYS bring the little ceramic tree with him that always came out in all the years to follow in his house! I couldn’t ever look at it and not feel a tiny bit 4 years old again!
When I was a teenager and older and went on blind dates he would run their license plates for me (true- haha)! My love of cars- yup his fault! That place in Jerome Arizona- I was on the phone with him when I went! I would tell him the names of all the cars I was looking at and he’d always get a kick out if it! I’m going to my favorite Junk Yard on Monday and yes he has been there on the phone with me too!
Those run down places on Route 66 that I’ve photographed I love because of the trip we took to Missouri when I was a kid! I can stand in a deserted campground looking at graffiti and garbage and only see children running and playing and smell the BBQ dinners that were being cooked!
Tools I know the names of a few! He bought me my first hammer and painted pretty little flowers on the handle for me! I called him once from Home Depot and told him about the palm sander I was fondling- we laughed!! Months later I was opening my Christmas present, what I thought was the weight of a big bottle of bubble bath- you guessed it- palm sander!!
HA- bubble bath…….when I was in 7th grade I lived with him and we were always joking around! One night he drew a bath for me and insisted I go get in! I was giggling and refusing and after chasing me all over the house he finally caught me and threw me in clothes and all!! Still makes me laugh! Some of you remember the super tall fort that was next to the freeway on the other side of the truck route exit off of I-5, Our house was right there at the time and I called Dad one day at work to tell him my puppy had been run over on the freeway, I was crying! Dad rushed home to be greeted by the little yellow puppy and me giggling- that’s how we were at our best!!
When I met Terry he was really happy after my many other failed attempts! He didn’t give me away, my Step-Dad Kay did, but he was my date at the Daddy daughter Dinner dance! I cherish both events with my Dads!
When Terry Died I spent many mornings crawling into bed to be between my Daddy Bill and step Mom Chris! It was the right place to be!
He was a fantastic Grandpa and Brett and his cousin Jonathan had many adventures in the weeks and weeks they spent at the farm in their early years! I bought Brett a VW Camper for Christmas when he was 12 so the two of them could restore it together, but that dream and soooo many others fell to the ground with him when he fell from the roof and broke his neck in 99! I am so glad he didn’t die that day! Over the past 18 years I know he and I both had so many dreams that he was walking!
I grew up at some point and “Daddy Bill” was replaced with “Padre”!
I could write forever right now about all the little memories that have been bouncing through my head for the last week and today while I was having a very peaceful day out on some of my favorite trails and a new one that was lovely I was especially reminiscent! I’m pretty sure I was having a great Padre moment as he took his last breath and joined my ever so amazingly sweet and kind Step Mom Chris in Their Heaven!
RIP Daddy Bill I hope your Dancing with Chris in your arms!
I Love You Truly and especially loved being your little girl Lennie!!