Earle N. Hepner, 84, of Perry Township, Clarion County, died Monday night at Clarview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Sligo, after a long illness.

Born in Wilkinsburg, July 15, 1921, he was the son of Charles E. and Susan Ella Nixon Hepner.

He enlisted in the Army on Sept. 15, 1939, and retired Jan. 1, 1963, with the rank of sergeant first class. He spent nearly all of his career with the Combat Engineers, served through World War II, Korea and the Vietnam era, and served in the United States, Europe and the Pacific areas of operation.

He earned the Asia-Pacific Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the Victory Medal, the American Defense Service Medal and the Korea Era Service Medal with three Bronze Stars. He also earned several letters of commendation and appreciation with the 65th Engineer Battalion of the Army Infantry Division.

After his military career, he worked at Tuscarora Plastics in Pennsylvania and Ohio for 20 years. He then worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service for four years.

He was a member of the Park Hill Church of God in West Freedom, where he attended the Saturday morning prayer breakfast as long as health permitted.

Mr. Hepner was a member and former officer of the Charles A. Black American Legion Post 598 and the Roy Calvin McGinnis VFW Post 7073, both of Parker.

Surviving are his wife, Valjean Kriebel Bobbert Hepner, whom he married Dec. 4, 1958; a son, Scott Hepner of Marysville, Ohio; a stepdaughter, Sylvia Levier of Blasdell, N.Y.; a stepson, Billy Bobbert of Perry Township; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He also is survived by three sisters, Murial Everett and Violet Bonetti, both of Butler, and Maxine Burkhart of West Monterey; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two brothers and a grandson.

<B>HEPNER </B>— Friends of Earle N. Hepner, who died Monday, May 8, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the <B>H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home</B>, Wayne Street, Parker. Visitation also will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the Park Hill Church of God, Lime Plant Road, West Freedom, where the funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Lonny Wolford and the church staff officiating. Burial will be at the Perryville Cemetery later.Members of the VFW and the American Legion posts of Parker will conduct a veterans service at the church following the funeral.