Date of Birth: March 30, 1925

Date of Death: March 01, 2023

Roy William Eppinger of Glendale, AZ, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at the age of 97. Roy was born March 30, 1925, in Harmony, PA, to Roy and Stella Eppinger. He was baptized in Grace Reformed Church, Harmony, PA. Roy attended Zelienople High School, in Zelienople, PA, and received his high school degree early before joining the US Army Air Force. Roy entered the US Army Air Force in 1943 and was stationed in Japan until 1946, serving in WWII as a fighter pilot flying the P-51 Mustang. Roy later joined the Ohio Air National Guard. After returning home in 1946, Roy attended Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK. It was also during this time that Roy married Irma Lane on October 2, 1947, in the Grace Reformed Church of Harmony, PA. They were blessed with three children, Gary, Janette, and James. Roy worked as an aeronautical engineer for the Goodyear Aerospace Corporation his entire career. With Goodyear, he took assignments to various cities and countries including Akron, OH; El Paso, TX; Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands where he worked on construction, testing, and operation of a ballistic missile tracking and anti-ballistic missile launch site; Seattle, WA, where he helped design the original Boeing 737; St. Louis, MO; and finally Phoenix, AZ. Roy retired in 1987 after 38 dedicated years of service to Goodyear. Upon retiring, Roy enjoyed golfing and square dancing with his favorite dance partner and partner in life, Irma. He also enjoyed fishing at Willow Springs and Knoll Lake, hunting, camping with his children, son-in-law Steve, and grandchildren, and houseboat trips to Lake Powell. Previously departed loved ones include his parents; son James Eppinger; son-in-law Steven Hansen; brothers Harold Eppinger and Richard Eppinger; and sisters Florence Gross and Eleanora Sloan. Those left to cherish Roy’s memory include his wife of 75 years, Irma Eppinger; son Gary (Terri) Eppinger; daughter Janette Hansen; grandson Christopher (Karin) Hansen; granddaughter Carrie (Tim) Belshe; grandson Benjamin (Kelly) Eppinger; grandson Michael (Jen) Eppinger; seven great-grandchildren; and his siblings Stella Mae Rape and Donald Eppinger.

Service Information

None at this time.