Edward Cronin Peple Jr.

PEPLE, Edward Cronin, Jr., May 6, 1939 to January 3, 2023. Dr. Edward Cronin "Ned" Peple Jr., 83, died peacefully in his sleep on January 3, 2023, at his home in Cedarfield in Henrico, Virginia. Ned was born May 6, 1939, to Dr. Edward C. Peple and Mary S. Peple in Richmond, Virginia. Ned is survived by his son, Edward C. (Troy) Peple III (Dawn); grandchildren, Jessica Nicole Peple and Edward C. Peple IV; brother, Stephen G. Peple (Iralin); nephews, Stephen G. Peple Jr. and John Brian Peple and their families, Eric Strong and Meredith Hiemstra and their families. Ned was predeceased by his wife, Sharon Strong Peple; parents, Dr. Edward C. and Mary S. Peple; and his son, Christopher Stevenson (Kit) Peple. Ned attended Thomas Jefferson High School (class of 1957). He was Captain of F company, president of the A Cappella Choir, a member of the National Honor Society and he served on the Thomas Jefferson reunion committee for 30 years. Ned graduated from the University of Richmond in 1961 and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honorary society, Phi Gamma Delta honorary society and the Omicron Delta Kappa honorary fraternity. Prior to attending the University of Virginia under a Woodrow Wilson fellowship and earning his Ph.D. in English, Ned attended Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and taught English at the Naval Academy preparatory school in Bainbridge, Md. Ned taught English as an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, and later joined Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Virginia in Customer and Payor Relations. He retired as Director of Provider Relations. After leaving Blue Cross, he joined Patient First as Director of Professional Relations. A devoted father, Ned was actively involved in his children's lives, and he served as a vice president of Huguenot Little League, and president of the Bon-Air elementary school PTA. He never missed a single little league game. He was Chair of the Chesterfield School Bond Initiative, on the board of the United Way and active in the United Network for Organ Sharing and Thrifty Sisters charities. During his tenure at VCU, he was loved by his students, many of whom kept in touch over the years. Ned was loved and respected everywhere he went. He was always kind and patient, and a gentleman and teacher, in the broadest sense of the word. A service celebrating Ned's life will be held at Cedarfield at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 28 at 2300 Cedarfield Parkway in Henrico, Va. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Ned to the United Network for Organ Sharing: https://unos.org/ or Thrifty Sisters: https://thriftysistersrva.org or the charity of your choice. Ned and his family wish to thank the nurses and staff at Cedarfield and Traditions Health Hospice who lovingly cared for him.