Donald James Epp, 73, of State College, died Monday, March 4, 2013 at Mount Nittany Medical Center after a brief illness.
Born June 23, 1939, in Hastings, Nebraska, he was the son of the late Abram W. Epp and the late Edith Harrison Epp.
He married Cathryn Jean Cronn on December 10, 1961, who survives at home.
Dr. Epp grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. He attended the University of Nebraska where he received his B.S. Degree in Agricultural Economics in 1961. He received scholarships, many honors, and the ultimate honor, membership in the Innocents Society, the Senior Men’s Scholarship and Leadership Society. He then served in the Army until he received an honorable discharge as a 1st Lieutenant. Following his Army service, he attended Michigan State University under the auspices of the National Defense Education Act Fellowship. He received both his M.S. and Ph.D degrees in Agricultural Economics at Michigan State University. His doctoral dissertation was based on a year long residence and travel in Europe studying the impact of agricultural policies on the European Economic Community. Following the receipt of his Ph.D. degree in 1967, he accepted a position at Penn State as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.
Dr. Epp served in the Department of Agricultural Economic and Rural Sociology for thirty-five years. While there he was instrumental in developing the Resource Economics Program. He also served as assistant director of the Land and Water Research Institute. In 2002, he received the Excellence in Academic Advising Award. He retired in 2002 as Professor Emeritus of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
Dr. Epp was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for forty-five years. He has been active in church and community affairs. Most recently, he spent eight years as a volunteer on the Patton Township Planning Commission, and was a volunteer at Centre Volunteers in Medicine until his illness. Most importantly, Dr. Epp was a loving, kind, and caring man who cherished time spent with his family and friends.
Dr. Epp is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Cathryn; a son, Eric Epp of Addis Ababa, Ethiopa; a daughter, Amy Epp and her husband Kevin Dodge of Bend, Oregon; a sister, Patricia Dolan and her husband James of Portage, Michigan; a brother in law, John Cronn and his wife Jane of McFarland, Wisconsin; and five nieces and two nephews.
Memorial Services will be held in the spring and will be announced at a later date.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Centre Volunteers in Medicine, 2520 Green Tech Drive, State College, PA 16803.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Services, 1034 Benner Pike, State College.
A guestbook can be signed and condolences shared with the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com