Edward Allen Eppinger (Al), 85, went to his heavenly home, peacefully on June 4, 2023 at the Savannah Hospice inpatient unit. He was a faithful man who loved the Lord, his family, church and his community.

Al was born in Zebulon, Georgia on February 22, 1938 to Sarah Kathryn Ballard Eppinger and James Edward Eppinger. After graduating from Griffin High School in 1956, Al went on to study mechanical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) on a Navy ROTC Scholarship. Al graduated from Georigia Tech with a B.S. Mechanical Engineering in 1960, top overall in his class.  Al met his wife of 60 years, Mary Ann Duncan, while attending college and they were married on July 15, 1962. After graduating from Tech, he entered the United States Marine Corp and was commissioned Second Lieutenant (Artillery) in 1960 attaining the rank of Captain in 1965. Al deployed for 13 months  at sea with tours in the Mediteranean and was stationed in the Carribbean during the Cuban Missle Crisis. He remained in the Reserves until he was Honorably Discharged in 1971.

Following his active service in the USMC, Al served Proctor & Gamble in progressive postions of increased authority in Perry, Florida culminating in his transfer to Memphis, Tennessee in 1970 to assist with Business Develeopment. From 1972-1977 Al led the construction and development of P&G Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada facility responsible for Plant Operations and Engineering. During his time in northern Alberta, Mary Ann and their children Allen and Anne learned different types of activities such as curling, cross country skiing and sometimes the  shoveling snow off their roof. For two Georgians, seeing the Aurora borealis and the occasional moose outside of town was a far cry from their Southern roots. The Canandians did not quite understand why they asked for the tops of the turnips from their gardens.

Moving back to the United States in 1977, Al directed the land acquisition, construction and development of the Flint River Plant in Americus, Georgia with profit and loss oversight. In 1986, he was transfered back to Florida where he began his career and lived in Tallahassee. In 1994, Al served in the role of Technology Manager overseeing the modernization, purchasing and wood supply of the Foley Plant. With the launch of Buckeye Technologies as its own business platform in 1994, Al assumed the role of Senior VIce President of Special Projects and Nonwovens until his retirement in 2001.

Both devout Christians, Al and Mary Ann attended First Baptist Church of Tallahassee for over 30 years. He was a lifelong attendee and volunteer at church where he and Mary Ann taught and partcipated in both Sunday school and Bible study. Al and Mary Ann always made God a priority in their lives.

As a lifelong  sport fan, Al was an avid and capable golfer, a state ranked tennis player,  on a competitive curling team with Mary Ann in Canada and bowling team in Memphis; they had matching monogrammed bowling bags. As a wedding gift, Al gave Mary Ann golf clubs so they could play together through their whole lives which they did all over the world.  Al and Mary Ann shared a love of travel. Professionally and privately, they traveled extensively to locales from Asia, Austrialia, Latin America and all over Eastern and Western Europe. Years of leadership prepared Al for a very active life as a volunteer with numerous organizations including Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Atheletes and Kiwanis where he served as a Division President for multiple terms.

Al loved to garden, growing his own vegetables whether in Canada or North Florida. He grew prized, heirloom rattlesnake beans, honeybell tangelos and gave away enough Meyer lemons for all of Tallahassee to make lemonade. Al loved to make puns and enjoyed making others laugh. He enjoyed playing cards or any kind of game with friends and family. He could puzzle out any crossword, often doing them in pen. Al was a generous person and gave of his time and resources to his church and his family.

Al is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Ann, his son James Allen Eppinger (Rebecca) of Tallahassee, Fl, his daughter, Anne Eppinger Martell ( LJ Trace) of Savannah, Ga. He has six grandchildren, Stephen Eppinger (Anna) of St. Augustine, Fl, Nathan Eppinger (Ingrid) of Campinas, Brazil, Deborah Eppinger Channell (Alex) of Smyrna, GA, Esther Grace Eppinger of Tallahassee, FL, Laurel Martell and Edward (Rory) Martell of Savannah, GA, his great granddaughter, Pippa Eppinger, his sister-in-law, Claudette Duncan and his sister-in-law Jo Ann Duncan. He also has five nephews and many cousins. A Memorial service will be held Saturday, June 10th, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Tallahassee, Florida at 2:00pm with Visitation commencing at 1:00pm.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes – WEST CHATHAM CHAPEL