Douglas Yerbury Eppler, Sr.

Self-described as “no hero,” Doug Eppler Sr. died April 16 very much a hero to his country, friends, and – most especially – the loving family he left behind.

A longtime resident of New Freedom, PA, Doug spent his final days back in his native Baltimore, where he was born in June 1947. Heroically put up for adoption as an infant by a woman with whom he would miraculously reconnect 75 years later, Doug was raised by William and Katherine Eppler along with his adopted brother and five sisters. He met the future Mrs. Doug Eppler, Julia Prosser, while attending Loyola High School; the two began a more-than-55-year relationship while at Loyola College and the College of Notre Dame, respectively. Their largest time apart came when Doug answered his country’s call and joined the United States Navy to serve in Vietnam.

Stationed in country for a year of his young life, Doug was a member of the fabled Helicopter Attack (LIGHT) Squadron THREE (HA[L]-3), the “Seawolves,” the most decorated squadron in naval history. When his brothers in the Army and Navy – including riverboat crews and the revered Navy Seals – required help, the Seawolves flew to their rescue in Huey-1 helicopters repaired and maintained by Doug and his fellow technicians.

Leaving the combat zone, Doug returned to a nation divided by the conflict in which he selflessly served…and his beloved Julia. The two were married in November 1971 and would build a home first in Baltimore and then in a new development called Heritage Farms, just over the border in New Freedom. There they would raise Doug Jr., Kevin, Stephanie, and Jason and make lifelong friends in the O’Donnells, Spanglers, and Zaldivars, their fellow founders of the residential development.

Always putting his family before himself, Doug accepted a transfer from Maryland National Bank in Baltimore to the fledgling and Delaware-based credit card division called MBNA. Rather than uproot his bride and four young children, he would spend 30 years driving three hours a day to serve as an executive in the company that would pioneer affinity marketing of credit cards before again being acquired by Bank of America.

Upon his retirement, Doug focused on his full-time positions as Julia’s husband and Pop-Pop to Julian, Sophia, Ayla, Charleigh, Leo, and Maya (and his fur grandbaby, Maeslee). The doting husband found doting grandfather a natural role and divided his time between maintaining the home he built with Julia, caring for and babysitting his grandchildren, and keeping up and relaxing in the Ocean City beach house in his wife’s family for more than four decades.

In his lifetime, Doug was many things – a champion swimmer, an amateur runner, a devoted fan of Baltimore sports teams, and a role model to professionals in the banking industry and two generations of his successors.

Long after he had said goodbye to his deceased adoptive parents, Doug was reunited with his birth mother and biological brother and sisters. One of the greatest joys of his final years was visiting “Mom” and sharing stories of the life that her brave choice made possible more than seven decades earlier.

Doug is survived by his wife, children, Kevin’s wife Jamie, and his grandchildren and by his birth mother, four of his adopted sisters, several biological siblings, and his furry pal Casey. His family takes solace in knowing he is reunited now with his adoptive parents, sister, and brother; his birth brother; dear friends like Joel; and his brothers-in-arms.

In the meantime, they’ll continue to disagree with his assertion that “I’m no hero.”

Doug’s wife and children will lead a celebration of Doug’s life on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Hartenstein Funeral and Cremation Care Inc. 24 N. 2nd St, New Freedom, PA 17349, beginning at 3 p.m.