Mr. Barney "Pep" Franklin Pepper

March 1, 1927 - June 19, 2021

Barney Franklin “Pep” Pepper, 94, husband of Cornelia of Pepridge Road Walhalla, passed away June 19th, 2021 at their home, as was his wish. Pep was born in Walhalla March 1, 1927. He was the eldest son of Bonnie and Frank Pepper. He opened Pep's Esso (later known as Pep's Exxon) after serving in the Army during World War II. When the war ended, he built his station and was in business from nineteen forty-eight until nineteen eighty-nine. Once retired he built a shop in his back yard and continued to take care of his elder customers until his late eighties. Pep always treated his customers in a friendly, fair, and helpful manner. Many times, he would tell a customer who was making a payment on tires or batteries to “make it light on yourself.” He was a member of Saint Luke United Methodist Church and an active member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class of Walhalla First Baptist Church. Pep is survived by his wife: Cornelia Aimar Smith Pepper; sons: Barney Pepper and David Pepper; daughters: Lynn Lanford, (Frank), Pamela Grant (Tony) and Cathy Burrell; step-children: Alison Smith Patrick (Don), Steve Smith (Debbie) and Dale Smith (Shirley); sister: Merle Pepper Orr; and eighteen grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren. Preceding him in passing were his parents; his first wife: Geraldine Wood Pepper; and brothers: Bill Pepper and Raymond Leroy “Pedro” Pepper. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Walhalla, on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at 2:00 PM. Flowers will be accepted at the service.