Robert M. "Pap" Shepard, 87, of Spring Grove, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 30, 2023, surrounded by his loving family at York Hospital. He was the loving husband of Edith M. (Laughman) Shepard; together they shared 63 years of marriage.

Born August 30, 1935 in Darlington, SC, he was a son of the late Carl M. and Cora M. (Boan) Shepard.

Mr. Shepard worked for General Telephone for 35 years as a lineman. Pap could almost always be found outdoors, no matter the season. He enjoyed keeping his home maintained, though we suspect it may have just been an excuse to be outdoors. He loved hunting, fishing, taking care of his magnolias, and caring for his beloved Paw Paw trees, the fruits of which he shared with family and friends, with the profits from his enterprise often furnishing hard-shell crab feasts for family gatherings. Pap's family was his world; he treasured every moment he had with them, from telling stories from his life growing up in the south, to the 12-hour, yearly road trips to Garden City, SC. He also faithfully served his country in the United States Army from 1953 to 1956, including a tour of duty during the Korean Conflict. Pap perfectly exemplified the notion of being a lover and a fighter; he loved his family, and he would not hesitate to fight to keep them safe. His memory endures in the hearts of those who loved him and those whose hearts were touched by him.

In addition to his wife, Robert is survived by three children, Carol Dillman and her husband Barry of Littlestown, Robert C. Shepard and his wife Joanne of East Berlin, Wade Taylor and his wife Carol of Red Lion; a sister, Iva Nell (Broach) Reed of Columbia, SC; ten grandchildren, Steph Sullivan, Jesse R. Shepard, Megan Showers, Brandon Shepard, Jade Taylor, Zachary Taylor, Mallory Rozema  Angelina Litten, Jordan Sell, and Brett Dillman and 15 great grandchildren. Robert is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends in South Carolina and Pennsylvania.

In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by two brothers, James and Alonzo Shepard, and an infant sister.

A service to celebrate the life of Robert will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, July 7, 2023 at the Wetzel Funeral Home and Crematory, 549 Carlisle St., Hanover, PA with Rev. Paul Guiliano officiating. A time to share memories with the family and an opportunity to view will be on Friday from 11 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Marburg Memorial Gardens, Hanover where full military honors will be rendered by the Hanover Allied Veterans Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Paradise Holtzschwamm Evangelical Covenant Church, 6777 Lincoln Hwy, Thomasville, PA 17364, or to Roots for Boots, PO Box 213 New Oxford, PA 17350.

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