Charles Vern Shepard

Charles Vern Shepard

     Dupont-- Charles Vern Shepard, 90, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior gracefully, on November 22, 2015, at his home, from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Congestive Heart Failure.

     Vern leaves behind a loving and grateful family: his beloved wife of 52 years, Marjorie E. (Heater) Shepard of Cloverdale, Ohio; a son Howard (Marilyn) Shepard of Dupont, Ohio; a daughter, Esther (Kevin) Brown of New Sharon, Iowa; and a set of twins, Fredrick (Rachele) Shepard of Cloverdale, Ohio and Forrest (Carrie) Shepard of Lima, Ohio, a daughter-in-law, Rose (Potts) Shepard of Paulding, Ohio; 13 grandchildren: Brian (Shepard) Straugh, William "Joey" (Amber) Shepard, Beth (Shepard) Dixon, Stephanie (Shepard) Roberts, Jonathon Shepard, Debra Shepard, Zachary Shepard, Glenn Brown, Lorraine Brown, Elizabeth Brown, Frederick Shepard, Jason Shepard and Timothy Shepard; 2 great-grandchildren: Braydon and Zachary Shepard and many loved extended family members: Ginger Lightenberger, Ila Shepard; many friends, brothers and sisters in Christ.

      Vern was the last surviving member of his family.  He is preceded in death by: his parents, 1 sister, 3 brothers, a wife: Thelma May (Dunham) Shepard (1961); two sons: Michael Lynn Shepard (2012) and Charles Patrick Shepard (2010).

     Born August 8, 1925, at his home in Urbana, Ohio, to the late Ezra Roy and Thessel Elizabeth (Geuy) Shepard, Vern was raised in Urbana attending high school playing football, baseball and basketball for the Hillclimbers until the fall of 1943 when as a senior he was drafted into WW II to serve in Germany. Vern served honorably with the 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), in ETO, until his return home in 1946.

     In 1950, he married Thelma May Dunham.  They were married 11 years until her death in 1961.  Vern worked hard as a boilermaker for 22 years at the Howard Bond Paper Mill of Urbana, where he played on their baseball team.  In 1963 he met Marjorie Heater, and they married in July. 

     Vern attended the Orange Street Church of God in Urbana until he was called by the Lord, to preach in 1965. In 1967 Vern became the pastor of the Dupont First Church of God in Dupont, Ohio and served for 10 years.  He then served as assistant pastor at Rose Hill Church of God. 

     He was then employed by Philips in Ottawa, Ohio as a high pressure boiler operator for 21 years. He also worked for Hertzel Canning Company, McDonald's in Ottawa, and the Putnam County Library as their maintenance man.

     Vern loved his family, living in the country, traveling, working with wood, fixing up their home, playing with the grandchildren and any sport with a ball. He also enjoyed fishing and golf.  But most importantly, Vern loved serving his Lord and Savior at church, home and work. Vern is now resting with eternal peace in Heaven and one day we shall be with him again. Will You?

      Funeral services  will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME in Continental.  Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Fairview Cemetery, West Liberty, Ohio.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Memorial donations may be given to Church of God Campground in Payne.        

    Condolences may be expressed at www.heitmeyerfuneralhome.com. 

 Service Information