Felton “Ray” Eppler

May 3, 1930 – August 12, 2019

Felton Ray Eppler, 89, died early Monday morning at Christ Community Church in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Born in Wewoka, Oklahoma on May 3, 1930, he was the first-born of seven children born to Hubert Benjamin and Viola Velva Grace Eppler. His father was employed in the oil field which meant that the family moved wherever the work took them around towns in the Central Oklahoma area.

With his father’s permission, at the age of 16, Ray joined the military in July, 1946. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. serving in San Antonio, TX, Biloxi, Miss., Shreveport, LA., and Yokota, Japan serving in the Army of Occupation in 1947-1948 and receiving the Japan Occupation Medal. He was honorably discharged in July 1949. After his discharge, Ray joined the U.S. Naval Reserve and from 1949-1953 he served in the Korean War aboard the U.S.S. Pasig AW-3. In August 1953, he received an honorable discharge with the Korean War Medal.

Between those two tours of service, Ray returned home to Perry, where he completed his high school education and graduated from Perry high school with his younger brother Tom in 1950.

Having been raised in the oil fields, Ray began his 40+ years career working throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana for service companies including the Lane Wells Company, Western Company, Otis Engineering, Drilling Equipment Mfg. Co., B.J. Company, and owner/operator of Calco Oil Tools here in Ardmore with field offices in Seminole, Oklahoma from which he retired.

After retiring, he worked as an independent oil consultant and contract sales representative for Semco and later as VE Enterprises. Also during his retirement years, Ray, being and avid golfer, decided to attend a golf repair school and later had a repair shop built in his backyard where he repaired clubs for many of his golfing buddies as well as making new friends along the way.

In 1971 at the age of 40 with two young sons, he moved from Louisiana to Whitesboro, Texas where he married Paula Kay Walsh, a widow and mother of three young daughters. Four years later, Ray’s youngest brother died suddenly, and his oldest son Michael, joined the family as the third son. Ray’s occupation in the oil field led him to moving his family to Ardmore in 1973 where he and Paula have resided to date.

In 2014 Ray fell and broke his hip and was unable to walk on his own. That is when the VA Center here in Ardmore became his permanent home.

Preceeding Ray in death were his parents, a brother, David Eppler, brother Thomas Eppler, sister Anna Lou Eppler Randall, a daughter Leslie Gail Hilst, a son-in-law Tony Walker, a granddaughter Christine Lundy Savory, three brothers-in-law Max Randall, Bill Dorcy, and Jerry Stanislay.

He is survived by his wife, Paula Kay of the home, three sons, Daniel Ray (Kat) Eppler, Darryl Craig Eppler, Michael David (Diana) Eppler, two daughters Billie Kay Bartolomucci and Nancie Walsh (James) Rosson, and a special 4th daughter, Teri Foster. Also surviving are three siblings, a brother Don E. (Kathryn) Eppler, two sisters Pat Dorcy and Binnie Sue Stanislav, seven grandchildren, Daniel S. Eppler, Ashley Lundy, Andrew Eppler, Aaron Eppler, Perry Eppler, Joshua (Elizabeth) Bartolomucci, Kevin Phillips, three great grandchildren, Elia, Ethan and Bennett Bartolomucci, and a host of nieces and nephews as well as extended family members.

Services will be held at Christ Community Church in Ardmore, OK. Interment with military honors will follow in the afternoon at Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro, TX.