John Walter Pepper

John Walter Pepper, a lifetime resident of Port Jervis, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis. He was 69.

Son of the late W. George and the late Margaret “Sis” Worden Pepper, he was born May 12, 1946, in Port Jervis.

He was the widower of the late Mary Ann Loske Pepper, who died Nov. 28, 2012.

He was a member of the Port Jervis & Middletown Mens' Softball Leagues and a past-member of the Mechanicstown Fire Department.

A family statement read: “He was a loving father and grandfather. He was a friend to many. He was a man of many words. John had an infectious smile. People could always count on him for a witty word or comeback to make you laugh. He was a die-hard Eagles Fan.”

Survivors include three daughters, Jonnie Pepper of Middletown, Ursula Chase and her husband, Roy, of Elizaville, N.Y., and Mandy Kowalski and her husband, Jamie, of Milford; sons, Carl Sherman Jr. and his wife, Sue, of Bloomingburg and Joshua Theodore of Port Jervis; two brothers, Richard Pepper and Robert Pepper; six sisters, Janet Schields, Maureen Tufano, Mary Ellen Roeber, Maggie Persinger, Judy Ogrodnick and Barbara Bogach; four grandchildren, Cameron Green, Jacob Loske, Justin and Julianna Kowalski; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by Billy Pepper and Nancy Zabowski.

Visitation was held at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home in Port Jervis on Oct. 9. Funeral services were held Oct. 10 at the funeral home, with the Rev. Matthew Newcomb officiating. Burial followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Jervis.

Memorial donations may be made to the family to help with funeral expenses.