The Shadow
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Mr. Oscar Thomas “O.T.” Sheppard, Jr., age 94, of Covington, died Friday, September 14, 2018, at the Salem Veterans Hospital, Salem. He was the husband of the late Lorraine Howard Sheppard.
Mr. Sheppard was born October 28, 1923 in Buena Vista, the son of the late Oscar Thomas Sheppard, Sr. and Nellie Mae Eggleston Sheppard.
He served his country as a member of the United States Army where he was stationed with the 44th Division for three and a half years. O.T. was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) and helped build Douthat State Park. A resident of this community for most of his life, Mr. Sheppard was employed by Westvaco, retiring in 1986 with over forty-four years of service. He was the chief steward and safety man for Westvaco U.P.I.U.
O.T. was a member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church where he was the superintendent of the church for two years and had over one hundred members. Mr. Sheppard was a charter member and chaplain of Falling Springs Fire and Rescue Squad. O.T. was a Virginia State Forest Warden for over fifty years and was a member of the Falling Spring Ruritan Club where he served as president and secretary for two years each. Mr. Sheppard was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion Post 4 and Covington Moose Lodge #610 L.O.O.M. He loved to hunt and fish.
Mr. Sheppard is survived by two sons, Oscar Thomas “Tommy” Sheppard, III and wife, Pat of Tampa, FL and Everett Mark Sheppard and wife, Sharon of Daleville; two daughters, Elizabeth Joy Bowling and husband, Bernard of Covington and Sharon Kay Hanna and husband, Ralph of White Sulphur Springs, WV; thirteen grandchildren; thirteen step grandchildren; a number of great grandchildren and step great grandchildren; a brother, Roy Lee Sheppard of Covington; a sister, Sylvia Sheppard Smith Toombs and husband Ronald, of Covington; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and his wife, Mr. Sheppard was preceded in death by two brothers, Bobby Sheppard and Charles Sheppard and three sisters, Shirley Sheppard Lovell, Lucille Rhodenizer and Mary Frances Sheppard.
A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. Friday, September 21, 2018, from the chapel of Loving Funeral Home with Rev. Yun Goo Kang officiating.
Interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be grandsons.
The family will receive friends Friday morning from 11:00 A.M. until time of service at Loving Funeral Home.
The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, 107 Mt. Pleasant Drive, Covington, VA 24426 or Falling Spring Fire Department and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 880, Covington, VA 24426.
Arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home; www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.
