Calvin J. Pepple Jr. (Bud Pepple), 88, of Salinas, CA passed away peacefully on June 5th, 2018 in Salinas. Calvin, or Bud as he was known, was born in Columbus, Ohio to Calvin and Margaret Pepple on December 3rd, 1929. He was a 1949 graduate of Mifflin High School in Columbus, where he excelled and lettered in multiple sports.
He was awarded a lifetime pass to all sporting events at Mifflin High, an award given to very few alumni in the school’s history. His ambitions of professional baseball were cut short by the Korean War when in 1950 he was drafted into the U. S. Army. He served as a squad leader in the 7th Infantry Division for 8 months on the front lines at Heartbreak Ridge in Korea.
After returning from war in the spring of 1952, he turned down reenlistment for officer training, and was honorably discharged as a U. S. Army corporal. Bud married Janet M. Wilkins on August 28th, 1953 in their hometown of Columbus. He worked in construction until 1956 when the couple moved to Salinas, CA where he had a job opportunity at Shippers Development Company loading produce in rail cars and trucks.
In 1962, he founded Pepple Produce Company, a growing, packing, and shipping company that supplied produce coast to coast. The couple expanded their family in 1966 by adopting a newborn son they named Mark. In 1978, he started and solely operated Bud’s Lawn Service for 36 years until 2014, when he was forced to retire at 84 due to health issues.
Over his full life, he was a lover of the outdoors and an avid camper, hiker, fisherman, and hunter. Bud was a loving husband of 64 years, a wonderful role model as a father, and a loving grandfather who adored his two young granddaughters. He was a Christian man who was a dedicated provider to his family and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Bud is preceded in death by his brothers, Carlton LaVerne Pepple and Dan J. Pepple, and by his sister, Vivian Campbell. He is survived by his wife, Janet Pepple, son, Mark Pepple, daughter-in-law, Tammy Pepple, granddaughters, Alyssa and Jenna Pepple, brother, Elwood H. Pepple, and many nephews and nieces. Visitation will be from 9:00AM to 11:00 AM, Thursday, June 14th, 2018 at Struve and Laporte Chapel, 41 W. San Luis St., Salinas, CA.
93901. A Service for Calvin will be held in the Struve and Laporte Chapel at 11:00 AM Thursday, June 14th, 2018 with Pastor Andy Rausch officiating. Burial will be held at Garden of Memories Cemetery, 850 Abbott Street, Salinas, CA .
93901 immediately following the service. The family wishes to express our sincere thanks to his extended family, friends, doctors, Central Coast VNA & Hospice, Brookdale Memory Care, Struve & Laporte, and Garden of Memories for all their support through this difficult time.
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