Dr. William Richard Eppler M.D.

Raised in Detroit he graduated from Southeastern High in 1953. He received a scholarship in Engineering at U of Michigan, which he attended for one year. It was soon apparent he was not destined to be an engineer, and in the Fall of ’54 he transferred to Wayne State University in Detroit in Liberal Arts. Having always been interested in Biological Sciences, he enrolled in pre-med, applied to The College of Medicine at Wayne, and was accepted in 1957. He received his M.D. degree in ’61 then interned at Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Point, MI. After internship he did a Residency in Ophthalmology at Kresge Eye Institute/ Detroit Receiving Hospital, completing the program in ’65.

In 1966, during the war in Vietnam, he was “invited” to join the Army, spending two years as a Flight Surgeon. Following the military he returned to private practice in general Ophthalmology and Ocular Surgery until his retirement in the 1990’s from practices in Cheboygan and Gaylord, MI. Following retirement he moved to Cortez, FL where he resided until his passing. As hobbies, Dr. Eppler enjoyed woodworking, fishing and gardening, and he and June also cruised the Islands for a time in their trawler Pinniped.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence K. Sr, mother Grace and his only sibling C Karl Jr.. Dr. Eppler is survived by his second wife Juanita (June)nee Bowen, and his four children, Jennifer, David (Jodi), Matthew, and Karl (Lynn), and four grandchildren. Interment will be at the Sarasota National Cemetery joining his brother Karl.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Southeastern Guide Dogs Inc. located at the address of 4210 77th St E, Palmetto, FL 34221.