Eppinger

Jack Rhodes Eppinger, 71, of Plain Grove Road in Plain Grove Township, Lawrence County, died at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Jameson Hospital, New Castle.

Born in New Castle, March 17, 1936, he was the son of Gaylord Charles and Erla Francis Bingham Eppinger.

He graduated in 1955 with the last graduating class of the East Lawrence High School.

Mr. Eppinger was a self-employed farmer and school bus contractor for the Wilmington School District. His father started the bus contracting business in the fall of 1939, and he took it over in the early 1970s.

He was a member of the Plain Grove Presbyterian Church. He also belonged to the Mahoning New Castle Lodge 243 and the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of New Castle.

He loved camping and spending time with his family.

He married the former Thelma Mae Frazier, Oct. 14, 1955. She died April 25, 2001.

Survivors include four sons, Jerry W. Eppinger and his wife, Nancy, of Pulaski, Donald H. Eppinger and his wife, Deborah, of Plain Grove and Dennis C. and Randy R. Eppinger, both of Slippery Rock; a foster son, Roger C. Wagner of Los Angeles; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

<B>EPPINGER </B>— Friends of Jack Rhodes Eppinger, who died Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the <B>Smith Funeral Home</B>, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Herbert Goetz, his church pastor, officiating. Burial will be at the South Plain Grove Cemetery, Plain Grove Township.A Masonic service will be held at 9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072 Pittsfield, MA 01202.