Rev. Stanley Earl Epling of South Charleston WV went home to be with his Lord on July 8, 2013, following an extended illness at CAMC-Memorial Division.
Stanley was born at Spencer, WV, April 16, 1935, son of the late Esten L. Epling and Juanita Simmons Epling.
Preceding him in death were two sisters, Ella Grace Sims and Joy Carter.
He graduated from Wirt County High School in 1953, where he played end on the football team and pitcher on the baseball team. He served in the U.S. Navy from November 1953 to October 1957 aboard the USS Dyess as a radioman. June 2, 1956 he married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Jean Turner, prior to his final Mediterranean cruise. Upon his honorable discharge, he became a West Virginia State Trooper January 5, 1958, stationed at detachments in Wyoming, Fayette, Nicholas and Jackson Counties.
After being called by the Lord to preach, he resigned from the State Police in the fall of 1974 to attend Bible school in Chattanooga TN. He graduated from Tennessee Temple Bible School in 1977 with a Graduate of Theology degree, and later earned a Bachelor of Religious Education degree from Faith Bible Theological Seminary in Milton, FL. He was ordained as a minster of the gospel at Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga on August 4, 1977.
Stanley pastored churches in Alabama, Tennessee and West Virginia. His radio ministry, "Contending for the Faith" was broadcast over Spencer radio station WVRC for over 27 years. He was a member of Spencer Baptist Temple in Spencer WV.
He retired in 2004 as a Hearings Examiner with the WV Division of Motor Vehicles after 18 years of service.
He is survived by his precious wife of 57 years, Carolyn Turner Epling; sons, Lewis Epling of Old Hickory TN, Stuart (Nancy) Epling of South Charleston WV; daughter Suzanne (Charles) Harris of Chattanooga ; grandchildren, Brent (Dawn) Epling, Courtney Epling, Schyler Osborne, and Samuel Igou; great-grandson Bobby Epling; sisters Shirley (Ray) Perkins of Spencer WV, Edith Cumberledge of Elizabeth WV, Janet McDougal of Sandyville WV, and brother Stephen Epling of Sandston VA.
Services will be Friday July 12, 2013 at 11:00 am at Matheny Whited Funeral Home of Elizabeth WV with the Rev E. Smith Epling officiating.
Visitation will be Thursday July 11, 2013 from 6-8 pm and Friday from 10:00 am until time of service. | 
