The Reverend Doctor Robert Epting Howard Peeples, 99,
formerly of Estill, died August 2, 2017 at NHC HealthCare, Okatie, SC. Dr.
Peeples was born January 13, 1918 in Estill, SC, son of the late Robert Rhodes
Peeples and Margaret Folk Peeples. He graduated from Estill High School and
received a B.S. Degree in Economics from the College of Charleston. He was
employed by The Citizens and Southern National Bank prior to joining the Army
during WWII where he served in the states and in India. Following the war, he
attended the Virginia Theological Seminary and upon graduation was ordained as
an Episcopal Priest and served the Georgia Diocese. He received his Doctorate
of Divinity from American Ministerial Association. He was a member of the
Georgia National Guard where he served as Chaplain for the 24th Division
Artillery and later served as Chaplain for the Chatham Artillery. He was a
resident of Hilton Head Island for over 60 years and was a member and former
Vicar of The Anglican Church of the Redeemer. Dr. Peeples participated
faithfully in local organizations and was instrumental in preserving many of
the historical sites on Hilton Head Island. He was president of the Hilton Head
Historical Society for 35 years and was a charter member of the Heritage
Library and member of their Board of Advisors. He helped oversee the later
merger of the Historical Society with the Heritage Library. He published many
articles on island history, including Tales of Ante Bellum Hilton Head Island
Families. These and other articles are preserved at the Heritage Library. He
was a founding member and secretary of the Hilton Head Island Museum and a
charter member of both the Hilton Head Art League and the Hilton Head Choral
Society. Dr. Peeples did extensive research to preserve and share his family
history and wrote A Miles Genealogy, A Family of South Carolina Planters which
was published in the SC Historical Magazine. He was a member of the following
organizations: The First Families of SC, where he served as president and
Chaplain; The S.C. Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, where he
served as State Chaplain and Chaplain of the Dr. George Mosse Chapter; The
Huguenot Society of South Carolina; the Society of St. Thomas and St. Denis;
The Hereditary Order of Descendants of Colonial Governors; The National Society
of the Sons of the American Colonist; The Order of the Founders and Patriots of
America; The Society of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy; and the Baronial
Order of Magna Charta. He is predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Cora McKenzie
Peeples, his brother, John Randolph Peeples, his sister, Ruth Peeples McNair,
and his nephew, John Randolph Peeples, Jr. He is survived by nieces and
nephews: David D. Peeples, Derbiana P. Bowers (Grover), Margaret
"Marce" P. Warner (Robert), and Robert F. Peeples (Shannon). He is
also survived by grand-nephews: Grover F. Bowers, IV, Hunter T. Bowers, Jacob
P. Warner, Lawton P. Warner and Hamilton C. Warner and a grand-niece, Margaret
E. Bowers. A graveside service will be held at Lawtonville Cemetery, Estill,
SC, on Monday, August 7, 2017, at 2 PM directed by Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home
of Hampton. Friends may visit with the family immediately following the
service.
published in The Island Packet on August 4, 2017
