Robert Eugene Peppers, 89, of Lakeland Fla., previously of Herculaneum, died Dec. 29, 2014, in Lakeland. Mr. Peppers served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II as a navigator in A-26s and B-17s in Europe and North Africa. After the war, he earned a bachelor of science degree in metallurgical engineering at the University of Missouri in Rolla. He joined St. Joe Lead Co. in Herculaneum in 1954, and became division manager of the lead smelter and vice president of Doe Run Inc. He was a leader in the Rotary Club; a member of the Lions Club; a member of the Board of Directors of Jefferson Memorial Hospital; a member of the Dunklin R-5 Board of Education; a Boy Scouts of American troop leader; and was a member and served on the board of the Herculaneum United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years: Peggy Peppers; five children: Don (Pamela Devenney) Peppers of Sea Island, Ga.; Gary (Carol) Peppers of Cape Coral, Fla.; Steve (Maureen “Reenie”) Peppers of Fredericksburg, Va.; Cheryl Peppers of Sarasota, Fla.; and Jeff (Lori) Peppers of St. Augustine, Fla.; two brothers: Richard Peppers of Palm Coast, Fla., and Russel Peppers of Champaign, Ill.; a sister: Winifred Gibbs of Belleville, Ill.; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Jan. 2 in Lakeland, Fla. Burial with military honors was in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. Memorials may be made to the family at 1001 Carpenters Way, #H 408, Lakeland, Fla., 33809.