Erwin H. Pepmeier, Jr.

Erwin Herman Pepmeier, Jr.—better known as “Pep”—passed away at home on September 16, 2025, holding the hand of Margaret, his wife of 72 years. Born on June 6, 1932, in Aylett, VA he was the son of the late Gladys (Dyson) and Erwin H. Pepmeier, Sr.

Pep's long life of 93 years was rooted in faith, service, and devotion to his family. He was a graduate of Highland Springs High School in Henrico County, VA, where he earned the nickname “Red Hot Pepper” on the football field. He went on to major in occupational therapy at the former Medical College of Virginia (now VCU) and, in 1953, married the love of his life, Margaret. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted and forced to step away from his studies. He would serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict as an occupational therapist (OT), tending to those injured during the war. Upon his return home to Richmond, he furthered his education with a master’s in occupational therapy.

Pep and Margaret’s daughter Cheryl was born in Richmond in 1957 prior to the family moving to Newport News where their second daughter Jan was born in 1960. In 1963, Pep and family moved to Baltimore County in Maryland where he initially worked as an OT for Springfield Hospital before teaching OT at the Community College of Baltimore. In 1965, their third daughter Joy was born, and the family purchased a home in Randallstown, where they settled for 32 years and happily raised their three daughters.

As a college professor for more than twenty years, Pep worked tirelessly to strengthen and reshape the occupational therapy profession. He was instrumental in establishing the OT program at Towson University. Throughout his life, he was incredibly proud of his volunteer positions with the American Occupational Therapy Association, including leading their headquarters relocation from New York to Maryland in the 1970s.

Faith was a cornerstone of Pep’s life, serving in nearly every capacity within the churches he and Margaret attended—both Colonial Baptist in Randallstown, MD, and more recently, Country & Town Baptist Church in Mechanicsburg, PA. He especially loved teaching Sunday School, to young and old alike.

At home, Pep was a devoted and loving father. He could be firm, commanding attention with just a look, but he was always ready with tenderness and support for his girls. On weeknights he made time to help the kids with homework after reading the evening newspaper. On Saturdays, he was the chef at breakfast time before tackling his long list of honey-do projects. Pep could fix, build, or create anything. From home improvement projects with sons-in-laws to puppetry innovations with his daughter Joy, Pep never met a project he couldn’t conquer.

As an OT, he excelled at many crafts, including weaving, macrame, knitting, and tatting, and enjoyed teaching his girls the delight of making things with their own hands. He taught his wife and their daughters how to sew, and he encouraged them to use these new skills to make their own clothes. Pep and Margaret were avid gardeners and grew extensive vegetable gardens while also maintaining a beautifully landscaped yard. They enjoyed sharing their bounty with neighbors and friends in MD and PA.

A faithful husband, proud father, and respected teacher and friend, Pep was a wonderful role model for his family, and his positivity will continue to live on through his family and the many lives he touched.

Surviving Pep is his wife of 72 years, Margaret (Simons) Pepmeier; daughters, Cheryl P. Duvall (Dudley Whitney) of Annapolis, MD, and Joy P. Cleveland (Ross Cleveland, Jr.) of Mechanicsburg; grandchildren, Philippe Duvall (Jessi), Jean-Luc Duvall (Karen), Sarah Allender (Nick), Benjamin Stewart, Ross Cleveland III (Erin), and Bryce Cleveland (Darby); and great-grandchildren, Quorra Josephine Duvall, Pepper Quinn Duvall, Samantha Mae Ramos, Gabriel Alexander Galpin, Henry Ryan Allender, Hazel Elizabeth Allender, Calvin Redd Cleveland and Conrad John Cleveland. In addition to his parents, Pep was preceded in death by a daughter, Jan Leigh Stewart; son-in-law, John Walter Duvall; and sister, Wilhelmina “Billie” Summers.

A public memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Saturday October 18, 2025, at Country & Town Baptist Church, Mechanicsburg, PA. A time of visitation with refreshments will immediately follow in the church’s fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Pep’s name to Country & Town Baptist Church (www.ctbc.org), Milton Hershey School Alumni Association (www.mhsaa.org), or to your local chapter of Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org).