Martin L. Hepner Jr.

Martin Lindel Hepner Jr., 68, a resident of 7254 Hopkins Gap Road, Fulks Run, died Feb. 28, 2003, at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, where he had been a patient for several days.

Mr. Hepner was born on April 17, 1934, in Shenandoah County, and was the son of the late Martin Lindel and Dorothy Coffman Hepner Sr.

He retired from the United States Air Force in 1973 after more than 20 years of service. He had also been employed at Rocco and the Harrisonburg Auto Auction. He was an avid Dale Earnhart and North Carolina Tarheels fan. He was a member of the Gospel Hill Mennonite Church.

On Nov. 18, 1960, he married the former Billie Jean Morris, who survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Sherry Smith and her husband, David, and Carolyn Shipe and her husband, Carroll, both of Fulks Run; one son, Rickie Hepner and wife, Linda, Broadway; two sisters, Carrie Rhodes, Dayton, and Patsy Smith, Harrisonburg; two brothers, Douglas E. Hepner, Fayetteville, N.C., and William L. Hepner, Falling Waters, W.Va.; eight grandchildren, Miranda Painter, Dustin Painter, Chad Shipe, Daniel Shipe, Tosha Jenkins, Cameron Smith, Ryan Shipe, and Danyele Shipe; three great-grandchildren, Toviah Shipe, Kayaliegh Painter and Rylan Painter and three stepgrandchildren, Michael Comer, William Comer III and Brent Comer.

Pastor Larry Graber will conduct a funeral service Monday at 2 p.m. at the McMullen Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 7 until 8 at the funeral home.