Obituary

Arthur A. Epling, 86, of Shoals, WV, passed away Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at his residence.  Funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1, 2008 at Beard Mortuary, Huntington, with Pastor Rudolph Thompson officiating.  Burial will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery, Kenova.  He was born July 17, 1921 in Iniz, WV, a son of the late Charles and Clara Epling.  He was also preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Josephine Epling; two sisters, Janice Dillon and Jean Fizer and a special brother-in-law, Rufus Waller.  Arthur served in the US Army combat engineers in WWII.  He was a member of the Lighthouse Free Will Baptist Church in Chesapeake, OH.  He is survived by two daughters, Judy Epling of Barboursville and Sheila Williams and her husband, Bobby of Shoals, WV, who resided with and cared for him for the past five years; five grandchildren, Ronnie Gothard, Rhonda Harmon and her husband, Scott, Kelly and Amanda Hager and Ally Williams; six great grandchildren, Jacob and Olivia Gothard, Tanner and Zoe Harmon, Morgan Hager and Shelby Dotson; wife, Elsie M. Epling; two sisters, Anna Burns of Kitts Hill, OH and Kathy Waller of Millers Port, OH; two brothers, Raymond Epling of Newark, OH and Clifford Sword of South Point, OH and a host of nieces and nephews.  Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, February 29, 2008 at the mortuary.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Huntington.  Special thanks to the nurses and aides that cared for dad.