H. Ray Hepner

Ray Hepner
Ray Hepner, 81, of Butler, formerly of the Eau Claire-Parker area, died at 7:15 a.m. Monday at the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center after a long illness.
Born March 19, 1923, in the Rodi, near Pittsburgh, he was the son of Charles E. and Ella Nixon Hepner.
He was a 1942 graduate of Eau Claire High School and served in the Navy from 1942 to 1946, mostly in the South Pacific. He was an aerial radio operator and obtained the rank of ARM-2nd Class.
Following his military service, he attended the Behrend campus of Penn State University in Erie and graduated in 1953 from Clarion State College with a bachelor's degree in education. He later earned a master's degree in administration from Westminster College in New Wilmington. From 1965 through 1966, he did post graduate study at New Mexico State University.
In his early teaching career, he taught at Parker High School and the former Saxonburg, now South Butler, School District. He then taught in the Moniteau School District and became the program director for the Title One Program and retired in 1974.
In 1972, he earned the title of Outstanding Teacher of the Year in Pennsylvania.
He was a member of the East Unity Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and trustee and belonged to the choir.
Mr. Hepner was a life member of the VFW and American Legion posts in Parker and the 40 & 8 Division of the American Legion. He also belonged to Plum Lodge F&AM in Pittsburgh.
Surviving are his wife, L. Arlene Newell Hepner, whom he married July 10, 1949; three daughters, Jean Lindsay of Butler, Susan Hepner of New Castle and Charlene Hepner of Clearwater, Fla.; a son, H. Ray Hepner Jr. of West Sunbury; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He also is survived by a brother, Earl Hepner of Dutch Hill, near Parker; three sisters, Muriel Everette and Violet Bonetti, both of Butler, and Maxine Burkhart of West Monterey; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A brother preceded him in death.
HEPNER - Friends of H. Ray Hepner, who died Monday, Jan. 24, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at H. JACK BUZARD FUNERAL HOME, Main Street, Eau Claire. Visitation also will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at East Unity Presbyterian Church, Cherry Valley, where services will follow at 11 a.m. The Rev. Paul Schaefer will officiate. Burial will be at East Unity Church Cemetery.
Members of the VFW and American Legion posts will hold a memorial service at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church.