JAMES W. "DICK" EPPS
Died March 3, 2012
GREENVILLE -- Retired Air Force Senior Master Sgt. James W. "Dick" Epps passed away Saturday, March 3, 2012, after a short and courageous battle with lung cancer.
A private memorial service for family and close friends will be held at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Bill Neely officiating. Burial in Arlington National Cemetery will occur at a later date.
A native of Wayne County, Mr. Epps joined the United States Navy at age 17.
Two years later he transferred to the United States Air Force, serving in the Vietnam War. He retired from the United States Air Force in 1973 after 23 years of service.
Following his military career, Mr. Epps returned to Goldsboro, where he spent 23 years as director of maintenance at O'Berry Center before retiring in 1996.
He moved to Greenville in 2010, where he had visited and attended First Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Epps was preceded in death by his parents, Meters and Birdie Epps; two brothers; five sisters; and a son, James Edwin "Jimmy" Epps.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Anne Sutton Epps; children, Pamela L. Epps, of Princeton, Chris Epps and wife, Jessica, of Navarre, Fla., and Dawn Vaughan and husband, Scott, of Greenville; granddaughter, Chelsea Epps, of Charlotte; and stepgranddaughters, Jessica and Caroline Vaughan both of Greenville.
The family will receive friends Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the family home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America, 15 S. Franklin St., New Ulm, Minn., 56073.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Maria Picton of Physician's East and her staff.
Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 5, 2012 1:50 PM