Grayson County TXGenWeb

Thomas Eugene Eppler, 78, of Cheyenne passed away April 15, 2011 at the Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne after an 8-year battle with Parkinson's Disease.
Tom was born November 20, 1932 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Hubert Benjamin and Viola Velva Grace Eppler. His parents moved to Perry, Oklahoma in 1948 and he graduated from Perry High School in 1950. In his youth, Tom attended schools in Tulsa, Wewoka, Holdenville, Shawnee and Waukomis, Oklahoma. One of his valued experiences was serving our country for 2 years in the U.S. Army at Ft. Hood, Texas, where he advanced to drill sergeant from 1953-1955, with an honorable discharge to Army Reserve.
After his discharge he attended and graduated from Oklahoma State University and accepted a teaching position at Perry High School, teaching math and science. He later was employed with the health, education and wellness program serving the State of Oklahoma under Gov. Dewey Bartlett. He was manager of A Welders Supply Co., Store Two in Oklahoma City before moving to Wyoming in 1985. He taught school again in the Cheyenne school system, retiring in 1995.
In his early years in Cheyenne, Tom brought the initial proposal to the recreational trail (the Greenway) to an Earth Day meeting. The group wanted to do something more for the community. Tom approached many local businesses and secured heavy equipment, operators and asphalt at no cost to the city. He also obtained approval from the City Council to go ahead and clear brush and trash and plant trees.
Tom enjoyed tennis and gold with friends and was always ready for some good competition.
Tom is survived by his wife, Carole, of the home. His children from his first marriage: Eric Eppler of Conroe, Texas; Chris (Katherine) Eppler of Portland, Oregon; Kyle (Milani) Eppler of Bangkok, Thailand; Clay (Vashti) Eppler of Yamhill, Oregon; and Anne Marie Eppler (Bill) Salter of Edmond, Oklahoma; brothers, Ray (Paula) Eppler of Ardmore, Oklahoma; and Don (Kathryn) Eppler of Garland, Texas; sisters, Anna Lou (Max) Randall of Perry, Oklahoma; Patsy (Bill) Dorcy of Frisco, Texas; and Binnie (Jerry) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Frances McCarter of Cheyenne; step-daughter, Christin Sharp of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; grandchildre, Emily Eppler (Matt) Gumbel of Dallas; Katie Eppler (Hunter) Lewis of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Ben, Kate, Sam and Matthew Eppler, all of Portland; Joshua and Zachary Eppler of Yamhill; Jake Holliday of Edmond; and Kiara and Justin Eppler of Bangkok; and step-grandsons, Stefan, Miles and Frank Rahimi of Edmond; and many nieces and nephews.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; brother, David Michael Eppler; sister-in-law, Irene Heard Eppler; niece, Leslie Ann Eppler; and nephew, Mark Andrew Eppler.