Fonzy Elroy Epps Sr.

Fonzy Elroy "Roy" Epps, Sr., passed from this life on April 24, 2015 due to causes incident to old age. He was born on September 29, 1925 near Pikeville, Wayne County, North Carolina to Bertie Obena Gwaltney Epps and Alphonso Atkins Epps. He was the fifth of seven children, and the only male to survive more than 24 hours. His sisters, Christine Gardner and Mary Spiron, preceded him in death.

He graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1942. He then enlisted and served in the U.S. Merchant Marines from 1943-1946. He continued to take sailing/steward jobs on long sea voyages throughout the world until 1951. He started his career in law enforcement by taking a position with the North Carolina Highway Patrol in 1951 where he finished first in his training class. He worked with the State Highway Patrol until 1955 when he went to work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, DC. While working full-time for the F.B.I., he obtained a Degree in Accounting from Benjamin Franklin University. In 1960 he accepted a position with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation. He continued in law enforcement until his retirement in 1986.

Roy had a great love of fishing and spent many hours in his boat with family and friends off the NC coast. He was an avid runner and completed 22 marathons and many other races throughout the world. He maintained an extensive garden through most of his life and shared the bounty with many.

Roy has been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since his baptism at eight years of age. He served faithfully as Bishop for over nine years, served on the Raleigh Stake High Council and as Patriarch of the Raleigh Stake. He married Mollie Doris Blackman, on June 17, 1949. They had 4 children. After her death in 1980, he married Dixie Marie Whitman on December 30, 1982. Roy and Dixie had two children. He is survived by his wife Dixie, their children Marie (Zane) Erickson of Laramie, WY, and David Epps of Raleigh, NC, and by his four children from his marriage with Doris; F.E. Epps, Jr. of Orem, UT, Mac (Carol) Epps of Oak Hill, VA, Sandra (Kelvin) Clark of Sanford, NC and James (Brenda) Epps of Wake Forest, NC. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 5 more great grandchildren on the way.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 1:00 pm in the Raleigh Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5060 Six Forks Rd. A Viewing will be held immediately prior to the funeral at the Stake Center at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Millbrook Road.