Ralph E. Sheppard

(LINEVILLE) Funeral services for Ralph E. Sheppard, 80, of Lineville will be Sunday, Aug, 4, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Benefield Funeral Home in Lineville with the Revs. David Holcombe, Ronnie Adams and L.C. Harris officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in McCollum Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mr. Sheppard died Thursday, Aug. 1, at Trinity Medical Center in Birmingham.

A native and lifelong resident of Randolph County, Mr. Sheppard was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and had retired in 2002 from the USDA as a meat and poultry inspector after 45 years of service. He was a member and deacon of McCollum Baptist Church.

Mr. Sheppard is survived by his wife, Margaret Sheppard of Lineville; one daughter, Shelia Avery (husband, Teddy) of Dothan; one son, Jimmy Sheppard (wife, Patty) of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one brother, Heaton Sheppard of Mobile. Mr. Sheppard was preceded in death by his parents, William Avery Sheppard and Mary Francis Yarbrough Sheppard; one sister, Nellie Nickelson; and four brothers, Clifford, Roy, Arvel and Charlie Sheppard.

Pallbearers will be Doug Sheppard, Jack Sheppard, Terry Sheppard, Don Sheppard, Brian Sheppard and Jeff Fuller.

The family will receive friends at Benefield Funeral Home in Lineville on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 5:30-8 p.m. and until service time on Sunday.

Benefield Funeral Home, Lineville.