Robert J. Gephart, Jr.

Msgt. Robert J. Gephart Jr., U.S. Air Force retired, of Jersey Shore, passed away at The Gatehouse hospice in Williamsport on Saturday, March 11, 2017, surrounded by those he held most dear. He was born April 27, 1934, in Renovo, son of the late Robert J. (Geppie) and Aleada Gephart. Those who knew him called him Bob, Gep or Geppie, like his dad. Surviving are his children, Bob, Donna, Kerry, Richard and Chris; daughters-in-law, Becci, Donna and Ivy; grandchildren, Austin, Sean, Stefan, Andrew, Gage and Jenna; and great-grandchildren, Stella, London, Peyton and Ira. He leaves behind his "Sis," Lorraine Manley; brother, Don; several generations of nieces and nephews; and his love of seven years, Beverly Ohnmeiss. He was preceded in death by sisters, Eleanor Kerwell and Aleada Embick. Bob served proudly in the U.S. Air Force for 23 years. He was specially selected from the top half of 1 percent of enlisted recruits for duty in the Security Service (USAFSS). Its mission was to gather intelligence by monitoring, collecting, and interpreting the communications of countries that posed a threat to our nation's freedom and security. Because of the highly sensitive nature of the information he dealt with, Bob had a security clearance several levels above Top Secret. For many years, he was strictly forbidden from speaking about his work - even with others in the same intelligence community once outside the secure buildings they worked in. He remained faithful to his oath of silence until 2015 when he learned his work had been declassified. Bob's family was in awe when they finally learned about the important work he had done and of the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal he'd been awarded for an outstanding contribution to the U.S. Air Force and intelligence community worldwide. Bob loved traveling with the U.S. Air Force and showing his family the world. They lived in England, Maryland, Texas, Florida, Turkey, Iceland and California and crossed through other states and countries in their travels. He worked in civil service upon his retirement from the U.S. Air Force and later enjoyed working at the Jersey Shore Steel Mill. He was known for his warm smile, easy laugh and incredibly thick mop of gray hair. He was easy to like and ran into friends wherever he went. He loved the theater, all kinds of music, doing kind things for others and learning about dinosaurs and the mysteries of outer space. His family could not be more proud of this man that they love, one of the last of a dying breed. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Helt Funeral Chapel with Certified Celebrant Brigitte Morgan officiating. Final services, military honors and burial will take place at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Bob's name to the hospice that provided such comfort to him and his family in his last days: The Gatehouse, 1100 Grampian Blvd., Williamsport, PA 17701.