PHILLIP MARTIN EPTING
Phillip Martin Epting, age 79, beloved husband of 55 years to Eugenia Lynn Edwards Epting, died on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at NHC Healthcare of Sumter.
Born in Newberry, he was a son of the late Robert and Motelle Epting. After his graduation in 1961 from Columbia High School, he chose to attend USC prior to entering the U.S. Air Force, where he graduated from St. Leo University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Phillip retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving as a special agent with the Office of Special Investigations. Prior to being appointed a special agent, he worked in accounting and finance. His duty stations included Shaw AFB; Heraklion Crete; Omaha, Nebraska; Houston, Texas; San Angelo, Texas; Anderson AFB, Guam; and Pope AFB, North Carolina. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked as an investigator for the Sumter County Sheriff's Office for two years before returning to serve his country in civil service with Defense Security Services as a special agent for 20 years, before finally retiring. Phillip was known as a kind, compassionate man and a loyal member of St. Marks United Methodist Church. He enjoyed bass fishing, spending time with his grandchildren and traveling to Canada to visit friends and family. He had a special love for cats over the years, especially his former cats, Sebastian and Picasso. In years past, he would often be found on weekends with his friends participating in fishing tournaments in Sparkleberry and Low Falls.
In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Epting Mitchell and her husband, Sean, of Camden and Elizabeth Epting MacDonald and her husband, James, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; eight grandchildren, Victoria Mitchell, Jacob Mitchell, Owen Mitchell, Abbigail Mitchell, Mary Ruth MacDonald, Duncan MacDonald, Lachlan MacDonald and Sawyer MacDonald; and his beloved feline, Cecil.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, James Robert Epting, and his sister, Sandra Smith.
He will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. The family would like to extend a special thank you to NHC and Visiting Angels for the wonderful care they provided.
A memorial service with full military honors will be held at noon on Saturday in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Wes Conner officiating.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Bullock Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sumter SPCA, 1140 S. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150; the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC, 20090-6011; or to a charity of one's choice.
You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book.
The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.