WALTER W. ZEPKE Jr.

WALTER W. ZEPKE JR., died peacefully on Saturday, March 4, 2023, with his wife and two sisters by his side. This was one week before his 85th birthday. Born March 11, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pa., he was a son of the late Walter W. Zepke Sr. and Mary Kathryn (McNamara) Zepke. In 1956, he graduated from Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport, Fla. After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and was sworn in by his father, a Naval Commander. Because of his high aptitude in mechanics, he was trained in aircraft repair and maintenance. He reenlisted two times for a total of 12 years before he resigned. Later in life, he would join the Indiana Air National Guard to complete his military career, earning a pension. After the Navy, he relocated to California. There he met a neighbor, Ann, who later would become his wife of 52 years. He worked on an assembly line at McDonnell-Douglas and later in Oxnard, Calif., making American aircraft look like Japanese Zeros for the movie Tora! Tora! Tora! Wanting a change after the completion of the job, he got his CDL license and bought a semi to begin his career as an independent driver. That brought him to Indiana. Ann joined him in Indiana and they were married on Jan. 23, 1971. (As a private pilot and owning an aircraft, Walt took his bride on a two-week honeymoon. They flew to Tennessee, Florida, Arizona, California, and Missouri to visit relatives.) For several years, he drove all over the country and then quit to be home with his wife and two sons. He took a job as a transfer operator at Gladieux Refinery until the Fort Wayne facility closed. His career ended with a final job as an aircraft inspector for Spirit Airlines. He was a kind man and always wanted to serve others. As a young man, he was a volunteer with the police reserves in Florida and later volunteered with the New Haven Fire Department. Surviving are his wife, Ann; sons, James and Todd (Whitney); sisters, Barbara Mortson and Erica Blakemore; 12 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. A family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Preferred memorials are donations to a Veteran's Hospital in donor's area.