Marvin E. Eppes, the former owner of Oak Harbor’s Hill Top Farm, went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 11, 2010, in Apache Junction, Ariz.

Marvin was born Sept. 23, 1926, at Westfork, Ark., to David and Una Eppes. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Roseburg, Ore., where Marvin lived until he entered the U.S. Army during World War II. Marvin volunteered while a senior in high school. After completing his training Marvin was shipped overseas to Salzburg, Austria. His primary assignment was as the principal driver for the commanding general of the Occupational Forces, Salzburg, Austria.

After receiving an honorable discharge on Nov. 6, 1946, Marvin returned to Roseburg to marry his high school sweetheart, Geraldine (Gerri) Taylor. They married on Dec. 26, 1946. Shortly thereafter, the young couple moved to Nampa, Idaho, where Marvin attended Northwest Nazarene College.

In 1951, Marvin started his life-long adventure with Alaska. He moved his family from Nampa to Seward, Alaska, where they helped start the Seward Church of the Nazarene. During the week Marvin worked for the Alaskan Railway and Seward General Hospital. In 1956 Marvin decided to become a salmon commercial fisherman. He continued this endeavor until 2005 when he sold his fish camps and permits to two friends and long-time employees.

In 1960, a few months after Alaska joined the Union as the 49th state, the Marvin Eppeses homesteaded on the Kenai Peninsula at one of their fish camp sites. They cleared the land then constructed a log cabin to live in. That same year they decided to settle in Oak Harbor. Thus began an annual migration that continued for nearly a quarter of a century. Marvin would lead his family, friends, and many others from Oak Harbor in May, up the ALCAN Highway to his log cabin. Then around September they would return to the Hill Top Farm in Oak Harbor. During these treks, Marvin would make films along the way as well as in Alaska to show to school children throughout Washington. Many young people from Washington would make this trip with the Eppeses. The Eppeses’ children found their spouses this way.

In 1984, Marvin sold Hill Top Farm and resettled in Manson, Wash. He and Gerri purchased their first of several motor homes and traveled between Alaska, Manson and Apache Junction, Ariz. During the winters they would also travel all over the U.S. to “see as much of God’s beauty as possible,” as Marvin would say.

Marvin served his Lord and Savor faithfully all of his life. He always thanked the Lord for giving him a wonderful wife, family, friends and life. He is sorely missed by those who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of over 63 years, Gerri, of Manson, Apache Junction, and Kenai; daughters: D’Ann Louise Waggoner (Carl) of Kenai, Darlene Lucille Brasch (John) of Nampa, Idaho, Rev. Dixie Lee Nash (Jim) of Camano Island; and son David Edward Eppes (Colette) of Boise, Idaho; sister Lilly Walker of Eugene, Ore.; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Marvin’s life will be held Saturday, Sept. 18, at 2 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Nazarene Church, 2710 E. Fir St., Mount Vernon. The celebration will be led by Marvin’s daughter Rev. Dixie Nash.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a hospice of your choice.