David Ray Hepler

David Ray Hepler, age 97, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 1, 2003. Reverend Hepler was a retired Baptist minister who followed God's calling and did the Lord's work in the central Virginia area for over 70 years. He was born April 7, 1905 near Covington, Virginia and is survived by his wife, Mary D. Hepler; son, David M. Hepler; daughter-in-law, Jennifer T. Hepler; and granddaughter, Abigail Kathryn Hepler; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Rev. Hepler was class valedictorian of Fork Union Military Academy and went on to graduate from the University of Richmond and the Colgate-Rochester Divinity School. Upon completion of his work in Rochester he returned to Virginia to pastor a field of four churches in Hanover County; Hunton, Winns, Mt. Olivet and Elon. In 1939, he was called to Fairview Baptist in Fredericksburg where he served for some 20 years. In Fredericksburg he also served as chaplain for the fire department and rescue squad. It was while in Fredericksburg that he met and married Mrs. Hepler and was blessed with a son. In 1962, Rev. Hepler came back to the Richmond area where he became pastor of Westhill (now Mechanicsville) Baptist and then Tuckahoe Baptist before retiring in 1978 at age 73. After retirement he continued his lifelong work for the Lord with several local churches and then at age 91 helped found the Tree Ridge Community Church where he realized a vision of a "church for all nations." A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13, 2003 at Northminster Baptist Church, 3121 Moss Side Avenue, Richmond, Va. 23222. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to Tree Ridge Community Church, the Paul Hepler Scholarship Fund (in care of Dover Baptist Association), or the Baptist entity or other charity of your choice.