Dr. Thomas James "Tom" Epplin

VANDALIA - Dr. Thomas "Tom" James Epplin, 52, died at 11:36 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, in his home in Vandalia.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, in Mother of Dolors Catholic Church in Vandalia, with the Rev. Father Delix Michel officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in St. Bruno Catholic Cemetery in Pinckneyville. Rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Saturday by Marianne Timmerman in Miller Funeral Home in Vandalia.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Thomas J. Epplin Scholarship Fund c/o First National Bank in Vandalia.

Tom was born Jan. 4, 1955, to Joseph L. and Mildred I. (Brand) Epplin in Pinckneyville.

He married Florine Ann Templeton on Dec. 17, 1977, in Pinckneyville.

He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign, and his doctorate of dental science from U of I in Chicago.

He was a dentist for 25 years at Vandalia Dental Associates.

Tom was a member of Mother of Dolors Catholic Church in Vandalia, past president and member of Fayette County Board of Health for 19 years, board member of Family Y of Fayette County, member and past president of Wabash River Dental Society, member of Vandalia Chamber of Commerce, Vandalia Sport Fishing and Conservation Club and a past member of Fayette County Bass Anglers Sportsman Club.

He was also an avid basketball and tennis player.

Survivors include his wife, Florine, of Vandalia; daughters and son-in-law, Julienne and Joshua Shamhart of Altamont and Kristina Epplin of Champaign; mother, Mildred I. Epplin of Pinckneyville; four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Jerome and Renee Epplin of Litchfield, Gene and Cindy Epplin of Terre Haute, Ind., Max and Patty Epplin of Pinckneyville and Kenney Epplin of Pinckneyville; and his office family, Connie Stine, Theresa Walker, Kortney Elam, Kelsey Holbrook, Anette File, Kim Hubler, Beth Bushur and Christina Donaldson.

He was preceded in death by his father.