Richard Eppinga

Mr. Richard H. Eppinga, 81, of Kentwood, returned to the loving arms of his Heavenly Father, on Friday evening, July 3, 2009 from the Meijer Heart Center at Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital. The son of Henry & Katherine (Lubberts) Eppinga, he was born on Nov. 3, 1927 in Grand Rapids. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, Richard retired from GMAC after 30 years of service. In retirement he was an active volunteer with prison minisitries, Joni & Friends, as well as the Christian Reformed Worldwide Relief Committee (CRWRC). Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Lois Eppinga; two children, David (Amanda) Eppinga, and Sally (Kip) Higgins; two granddaughters, Lauren and Kelly Higgins; a brother, Joe (Norma) Eppinga; a sister, Margaret Clark; a brother-in-law, Russell Cote; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services are at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 from the chapel of Calvary Church, 707 East Beltline N. E. at I-96, Grand Rapids, where the family will receive relatives and friends from 10-11 a.m. Private burial will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Instead of flowers, Rich would have appreciated contributions in his memory to either Joni & Friends or CRWRC. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Eppinga, please visit our flower store.