Herbert Lewis Eppinger
1932-2022
Herbert Lewis Eppinger (Herb), age 89, passed from this world to his Eternal Home on January 19, 2022. He was a devoted husband, father, Pap, son, brother and friend.
Born on May 29, 1932, he was the son of William Harold Eppinger and Gladys Beeler Eppinger. He was married to his beloved wife, Elizabeth (Liz) Russell Eppinger, for 62 wonderful years, the majority spent in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. The past four years, Herb and Liz have resided at Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury in Winchester, Virginia.
He is survived by his three children Herbert Eppinger, Jr. (Bobbie), Ann Eppinger (Scott Davidson) and Beth Little (Doug), and six grandchildren, Josh Eppinger (Andrea), Hayley Eppinger, Will Sealy, Becca Sealy, Hannah Little, and Morgan Little. He is also survived by two sisters, Ruth Miller and Evelyn Stotler.
He was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings, Becky Ruppenthal, William Eppinger, Julia McBee, Helen Younker, Phillip Eppinger, Richard Eppinger and Mary Joyce Eppinger.
He was a 1950 graduate of Berkeley Springs High School and attended West Virginia University after serving in the United States Coast Guard. Herb served as the County Executive Director for the United States Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) in Morgan County for 31 years, providing advice and offering friendship to local farmers. He was a conservationist. During his tenure, he implemented Conservation Week, going out into the schools and community to educate, and this week culminated each year in the crowning of a Miss Conservation. Hundreds of seedlings were planted each year after being distributed at this famous local event. Additionally, he led the effort to plant trees to prevent erosion on the hillside behind Widmyer Elementary School when it was built. He also trained numerous county executive directors who were later posted all over the state of West Virginia, and he served as the county coordinator for the Mountaineers for Rural Progress for many years. He was nationally recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture twice at ceremonies in Washington, D.C.
Many will also remember their visits to his Christmas tree farm on Winchester Grade Road. He was an excellent gardener, both in Berkeley Springs and at Westminster-Canterbury where his tomato surplus was greatly enjoyed by his friends.
Herb loved the Lord and was active in the First United Methodist Church of Berkeley Springs, where he served as Chairman of the Administrative Board, Pastor-Parish Committee and Building Committee over a long life of service. He loved his Wednesday morning Men’s Prayer Group and the Issac and Rebecca Sunday School Class. Not only did he serve the Lord in the local church but he held leadership positions in the Hagerstown United Methodist District and the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the Methodist Church. Following their move to Winchester, they joined the Braddock Street United Methodist Church.
Herb served as a Director of CNB Bank for 35 years, where he held the position of Secretary to the Board for many years as well as served on many committees. He was a member of the Morgan County Chamber of Commerce for a number of years and was named to the inaugural Apple Butter Festival Hall of Fame. He also served for a number of years on the Morgan/Berkeley County United Way. He volunteered along with Liz for many years at the Morgan County Interfaith Emergency Care (MCIEC) food pantry.
Herb was a humble man. He led a life of service and loved to help others. He was deeply respected for his integrity and kindness and will be sorely missed.
Interment at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia, will be private, but his family will honor him at a memorial service in the spring, where family and friends will be invited to celebrate this wonderful man.
If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to the Morgan County Interfaith Emergency Care (MCIEC), P.O. Box 988, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia 25411.
Online condolences may be left at www.jonesfuneralhomes.com.
