Eppa Barkley

Eppa B. Barkley CHESAPEAKE - Retired U.S. Navy Lt. Eppa Bland Barkley peacefully passed away June 13, 2009, in his home. Born Aug. 19, 1922, in Boykins, Va., he was preceded in death by his parents, Inez and Ed Barkley and his brother, Paul, who died in childhood. Eppa joined the Navy at age 17 and served for 31 years. He was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He continued his career at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, retiring after 15 years. He was a longtime member of Cradock Baptist Church, a Mason for 62 years and belonged to Lake Drummond Masonic Lodge No. 178. Eppa is survived by his wife of 64 years, Evelyn; five children, Paul Barkley and wife Terry, Linda Wood and husband Bill, Eppa Barkley Jr., Nancy Burshem and husband Craig, and Cindy Warren and husband Tom; four grandchildren, Candice Johnson, Jennifer Barkley, Kristen Prince and Jessica Smith; and one great-grandchild, Amanda Leigh Johnson. A funeral will be held Tuesday, June 16, at 11 a.m. in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, by the Rev. E. Clifton Whitlock. Burial will be in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. www.SturtevantFuneralHome.com.