Ronald E. Eppler

Ronald Eugene Eppler went to be with our Lord on Sunday, March 24, 2019 after a brief illness.

Ron was born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 21, 1932 to Eugene and Freda Eppler. Ron graduated from Hempstead High School on Long Island, NY in 1950. He was accepted into the Baldwin Wallace Music Conservatory and entered in the fall of 1950. His instruments were trumpet, string bass and voice. He changed his major to history his sophomore year though he remained involved in the music program at BW all four years.

In 1954 Ron was accepted into the Boston University School of Theology where they crafted a curriculum based on sacred music specifically for him. He earned his Master of Divinity in 1959. One special note is that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was earning his PHD from the School of Theology during the same period and Ron had the fortune to be in attendance at Dr. King’s Doctorate Ceremony in 1955.

Ron went on to serve in ministry at First Church Baldwin, Baldwin, NY (1959); Trinity, Youngstown, OH (1961); Cardington UMC, Cardington, OH (1965); Trinity, Chesterland, OH (1969); Lower Salem UMC, Pleasant Hill UMC and Harrietsville UMC all in Washington County, OH (all 1984); The Mansfield District as Superintendent (now Mid-Ohio District) (1987); Bedford UMC, Bedford, OH (1992); and Mentor UMC, Mentor, OH (1998).

Ron served as the Minister of Music at Trinity, Youngstown from 1961 to 1965. This is the same position that Carleton Young, Editor of the United Methodist Hymnal, held previously to Ron.

Ron served as the Choral Director at Painesville United Methodist from 1972 until 1984 while working as an insurance agent for the New England Life Insurance Company and other financial institutions. He stepped back into full time appointment again in 1984 until his retirement.

Upon retirement from his position as Visitation Pastor at the Mentor United Methodist Church, Ron was bestowed the honor and title of Pastor Emeritus by that congregation, which he felt was one of the greatest honors of his career. He was truly humbled and moved by the generosity of the MUMC congregation.

His love for Marna, his wife, was only topped by his love of God. They met his junior year at Baldwin Wallace and were married on June 21, 1956. They were married 59 ½ years when Marna passed away in 2015. Their marriage was an extraordinary one. They were in love in every sense of the word.

Ron touched the lives of hundreds of people through his ministry. The United Methodist Ministry was truly his calling and he specifically thrived in one-on-one pastoring and visitation. He directed many church choirs and led many hymn workshops. Many remember him for leading folk songs while playing his banjo around the campfire.

Ron is survived by his sister, Barbara Hora; his children Jennifer, Craig (Laurie) and Leslie; his five grandchildren Seth, Sasha, Christopher, Sean and Caelyn and five great-grandchildren, Aurora, Lucien, Cartier James, Alan Jay and Reagan Laurette. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marna M Eppler; and his parents Eugene and Freda Eppler.

A Memorial Service will take place at Mentor United Methodist Church, Mentor, Ohio at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 6th. The family will receive visitors at the church beginning at 9:45 AM. There will be a luncheon immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Ronald E Eppler Scholarship Fund at Mentor United Methodist Church, 8600 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060 or The Wesleyan Senior Living Foundation at 807 West Ave, Elyria, OH 44035.