He graduated from St. Paul's High School in Concordia, MO. Following his high school graduation he attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO, where he studied forestry. After college he joined the United States Air Force. While with the Air Force he was a fighter pilot flying the F89 Fighter jets.
He married Sue Evelyn Wilson on June 15, 1956 at the Spence Air Force Base in Moultrie, Georgia. She preceded him in death on December 5, 2008.
At the completion of his service to his country he was employed as an air traffic controller, retiring in 1983.
William loved the outdoors, watching birds, hunting, fishing and gardening. He enjoyed getting his hands dirty on the farm, watching his plants grow to maturity. He also was an avid coin collector.
Surviving are four sons, Stephen Hepting, David Hepting, Douglas Hepting and wife Donna, and Kenneth Hepting and wife Cindy; one daughter, Beverly Garr and husband Larry; seven grandchildren, Tracey, Brooke, Jacob, Jennie, Matthew, Robbie and wife Dawn, and Joey; four great-grandchildren, Brayden, Dayton, Jaxon and Jayce; four great-great-grandchildren, Damon, Shiane, Rilley and Jacklyn; three brothers, Carl Hepting, Tom Hepting and Tim Hepting; one sister, Esther Hartmann; and a host of other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Reverend Wilhelm Hepting and Hilda (Mueller) Hepting.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2018 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 95 East Highway 7, Clinton, MO. The family will receive friends at the church from Noon to 2:00 p.m., just prior to the funeral service. Friends may call Monday from Noon to 8:00 p.m. at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton.
Burial will be in Englewood Cemetery. Military services at the grave under the direction of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1894, Clinton. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.
Special thanks to the staff of Lincoln Community Care Center, Heartland Hospice, AMVETS and Pastor Jesse Kueker.
"The good men perish; the Godly die before their time and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from the evil days ahead. For the Godly who die shall rest in peace. Isaiah 57, verses 1 and 2.
