Gerald (Cotton) Epperson
Jerry Langford
Gerald Willis Epperson (Cotton) passed away on October 31, 2025. Visitation will be held Friday, November 21, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by service at 11 a.m., at Church Angels Funeral Home, 6301 Granbury Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76133. Graveside service will be Friday, November 21, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy., Dallas, TX 75211.
Gerald Willis Epperson (Cotton), 82 of Fort Worth passed away October 31, 2025. He was born September 29, 1943, to Jean Chandler and Ishmael H. Epperson in Thibodaux, LA. They moved to Cedar Bayou, TX when he was a few months old. It was later renamed Goose Creek, and finally renamed Baytown, TX.
He attended Cedar Bayou Elementary School and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1962. He then attended college at The University of Houston where he met the love of his life, Patricia Anne Martin. They married July 15, 1967 and were happily married for 50 years before she passed away April 7, 2018.
In August 1967 he enlisted in The US Air Force and proudly served for 20 years. He served as an Electronic Warfare Officer on the B-52 D model and proudly served in Vietnam. He had numerous deployments, including Anderson AF Base on Guam, Carswell AFB, Ft. Worth, TX before retiring in August 1987 from Hahn AB, Germany and moving back to Fort Worth.
He received many medals and awards including Distinguished Flying Cross Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 10 devices, Humanitarian Service Medal, Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, among many other awards.
While stationed at Hahn AB he received his Master's Degree in Education from Boston University. After retiring he became a counselor for teens and young adults. Once he retired from that he became a supervisor at a call center until he finally retired for good.
He was a devoted father and is survived by his daughter Rebecca Jean Epperson. He was also very proud to be Paw Paw to his granddaughters Lauren Elizabeth Moore (husband Michael Moore) of Hartselle, AL and Leslie Anne Stephenson (husband Jerry Stephenson) of St. Joseph, TN. He was blessed with 7 great grandchildren whom he loved dearly.
He is also survived by his sister Gwen Tooke of Baytown, TX and sister-in-law Eva Joe Epperson of Baytown, TX as well as several nephews and numerous cousins. He is also survived by his son Lloyd M. Epperson
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ish and Jean Epperson, brother Jimmy Epperson, and niece Jeanie Zayas.
Visitation will be held Friday, November 21, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by service at 11 a.m., at Church Angels Funeral Home, 6301 Granbury Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76133.
Graveside service will be Friday, November 21, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy., Dallas, TX 75211
