April 27, 1935 – May 31, 2014
Ralph R. Van Epps, 79, a lifelong resident of Sweet Home died Saturday May 31, 2014 at the Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House in Albany.
He was born April 27, 1935 at home in Holley, the son of Ira and Mildred (Fruit) Van Epps. He grew up in the Holley and Crawfordsville area and attended Sweet Home schools, graduating from Sweet Home Union High School in 1953. He worked throughout his career in plywood and veneer mills. He worked for Sweet Home Veneer, Boise Cascade and later for Pleasant Valley Plywood in Harrisburg, where he retired in the late 1990s.
Mr. Van Epps enjoyed hunting, fishing and going to garage sales where he looked for antiques. He was a 50-year member of the Sweet Home Elks Lodge.
He married Sandra E. Jones in Albany in December of 1956.
He is survived by a son, David and daughter-in-law Karen Van Epps of Lebanon; brother Carl Van Epps of Lebanon; sisters Ruth Sumstine of Lebanon and Jean Blackwell of Crawfordsville; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Mr. Van Epps was preceded in death by his wife, Sandra in 2002; daughter Tami; brothers Albert, Glen, Lyle and Elmer; and a sister, Iris Gates.
Viewing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 5, at the Huston-Jost Funeral Home. A graveside service will be at 11 a..m. Friday June 6, at the Lebanon I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.