Obituary of Jacob Robert Epprecht

Lieutentant Colonel Jacob Robert Epprecht, Jr. Jacob Robert Epprecht, Jr., 67, died Tuesday, March 18, in Reston with his family by his side. Jay was born August 29, 1946, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, to Jacob and Georgia Epprecht. The family moved to Rahway, New Jersey in 1962, where he completed high school and was accepted to Rutgers University, New Brunswick campus. During the years spent at Rutgers, Jay committed to the United States Air Force and became part of the ROTC (Reserved Officer Training Corps) program. As part of ROTC, Jay became a member of the "Queens College" Queens Guard - a competitive rifle drill team. At the end of his senior year in 1968, the Queens Guard became more distinguished when it was invited to perform at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, Scotland. This would be the very first time a group from outside the United Kingdom was invited to perform at this extraordinary event. Even his military service was delayed to allow him to attend the tattoo. Just prior to heading to Scotland, Jay married Ruth Sulo. He was graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in History and was commissioned into the United States Air Force beginning a stellar career of 21 years. After returning from Scotland, he and Ruth headed off to Rantoul, Illinois where he attended Aircraft Maintenance Tech School. His first assignment was to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at Bentwaters, England in 1969 as a Flight line maintenance officer. In 1973, he was assigned to the 390th Strategic Missile Wing as a Titan II Missile Combat Crew Commander and the Chief of Emergency War Order Training at Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona. After six years of missile duty, he returned to the field of Aircraft Maintenance as the 522nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge and the Maintenance Supervisor of the 27th Component Repair Squadron at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. During a remote, he served as the Aircraft Maintenance Advisor to the Royal Saudi Air Force at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Upon his return, he was stationed at Langley AFB, Virginia, Headquarters Tactical Air Command as an inspector for the TAC IG and the Commander of the 1st Component Repair Squadron. His final assignment was the Pentagon, in 1983, at the Directorate of Logistics Plans and Programs. He was truly a dedicated and decorated serviceman. After his military retirement in 1989, Jay worked with ANSER Analytic Services (a public-service research institute) as a Senior Systems Analyst and Anteon (a national defense, intelligence, emergency response and other government missions support company) as a Senior Policy Analyst. He ended his working career in 2005. Known for a superior bass voice - Jay's singing lent a wonderful tone to both the choir of Galilee United Methodist Church choir and the Bull Run Troubadours Barbershop Chorus. His quartet, Sho'N'Off, often performed around both Prince William County and Fairfax Counties. One of Sho'N'Off's favorite places to perform was Jimmy's Old Town Tavern in Herndon where they sang many tunes during Valentine's and St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Often while gathering for breakfast at the Virginia Kitchen, they would have an impromptu song for the staff and patrons. Jay is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ruth Sulo Epprecht, children Jacob III (Abigail Baker) and Ian (Julie DeFusco) and his six grandchildren: Ian Jr, Zachary, Wyatt and Oliver Epprecht and Madison and Piper Smith, and his sister Patricia Epprecht of Shamong, New Jersey. The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 3:30 pm on Monday March 24, 2014 at Galilee United Methodist Church 45425 Winding Road Sterling, VA where funeral services will take place at 3:30pm. Jay made it known, that people should celebrate his life and he wanted people to wear any other color than black. This will truly be a celebration of his life! In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National MS Society.