Dr. Howard Koepke, 82, formerly of the Ross Township area of North Hills, died Sunday evening at Good Samaritan Hospice House, Marshall Township, Allegheny County.

He and his wife, Mary, moved to Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople five years ago from Holiday Drive in North Hills.

Born in Pittsburgh, Feb. 6, 1924, he was the son of William and Emma S. Miller Koepke.

He was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry and a member of the Pitt dental fraternity.

Dr. Koepke practiced dentistry at his offices in Ross and McCandless townships and belonged to the Pennsylvania Dental Association.

He was a member of Northmont Presbyterian Church and McKinley-Stuckrath Lodge F&AM and Syria Shrine and Consistory.

He served as a second lieutenant B-17 bomber pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a prisoner of war in Germany and belonged to the 8th Air Force Historical Society, the American Ex-Prisoners of War and the Mars VFW Post 7505.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Aeberli Koepke, whom he married June 28, 1949; two daughters, Elaine Koepke of Florida and ChrisAnn Goossen (Rev. Robert) of Homer City; a son, Kurt Koepke of New Jersey; and two grandsons, Nicholas Goossen and Matthew Caulfield.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Koepke.

<B>KOEPKE</B> — There will be no calling hours. A private graveside service with military honors for Dr. Howard Koepke, who died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, was Wednesday at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville.Friends and family are invited to a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Scholl Auditorium, Passavant Retirement Community, 401 S. Main St., Zelienople. The Rev. John Hoogerbrugge, chaplain, will officiate.A reception will follow.Memorials may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, 3500 Brooktree Road, Wexford, PA 15090; or to Seaman Chapel, Passavant Retirement Community, 401 S. Main St., Zelienople, PA 16063.Arrangements are under the care of <B>McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home</B>, Mars, and information and online condolences may be submitted at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.