Leroy Dean Eppley, 87, of rural Wabash, Indiana, died at 9:24 am, Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born on April 18, 1935, in Wabash, to Leroy and Frances (Vincent) Eppley.
Dean graduated from Somerset High School in 1953 and received his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Purdue University in 1957. He married Carolyn Schuler at the Zion Lutheran Church in North Manchester, Indiana on June 15, 1958. Dean was a life long farmer, and also served as County Commissioner for 20 years. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Wabash, where he served on several church committees and taught Sunday School. Dean was also a member of the Purdue Ag Alumni, where he was awarded the Distinguished Ag Alumni Award; the Purdue University Band Alumni; the ROTC Military Band; the Indiana and National Corn Growers and Corn Marketing Association; the National Organic Standards Board; the United Fund Board; the Wabash County Museum Board; the Bowen Center Board for 25 years; the Wabash County Council; the Soil and Water Conservation Board of Wabash County for 20 years, and the Wabash County Farm Bureau Board. Dean also was a member of the Trustees of North Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, and also served on the Council of Finance.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Eppley of Wabash; three children, Barry (Susan) Eppley of Wabash, Teresa (John) Kofodimos of Mooresville, Indiana, and Linda (Lloyd) Williams of Portage, Indiana; six grandchildren, Owen (Nicole Parsley) Williams of Raleigh, North Carolina, Gavin Williams of North Liberty, Iowa, Morgan (Jacob) Kimball of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Joe Eppley of Wabash, Sofia Kofodimos of New York City, New York, and Kyra (Michael Veatch) Kofodimos of Indianapolis, Indiana; and three sisters, Miriam (Maurice) Musselman and Lois Wood, both of North Manchester, and Lela Dale of Wabash. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Rev. Paul Eppley and Harold Eppley.
Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Monday, January 16, 2023, at Christ United Methodist Church, 477 N. Wabash Street, Wabash, with Jay Driskill officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawns Cemetery, Wabash. Friends may call 2-6 pm Sunday, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, and one hour prior to the service Monday, at the church.
Preferred memorial is Community Foundation of Wabash County or Christ United Methodist Church.
The memorial guest book for Dean may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
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