Vernon L. Sheppard 78 of 2903 Nance St. Newberry died Wednesday August 11 2004 at Palmetto Richland Hospital. Mr. Sheppard was born on September 10 1925 in Prosperity a son of the late Lealon H. and Elsie Kyzer Sheppard. He was an Army veteran of WW II having served with the 4th Infantry 8th Regiment in the Normandy Invasion Northern France and the Rhineland. He received the EAME Service medal with 3 bronze service stars; the Good Conduct Medal; the Blue and Gold Presidential Citation; the Purple Heart Medal; the World War II Victory Medal and in December of 2003 he was presented the Normandy Invasion Medal from France and the United States. Mr. Sheppard was a retired employee of Wometco Food Service and was also co-owner of Newberry Antiques and Auction Co. He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church where he was a former member of the Congregational Council and where he was very active as long as his health permitted. He was a pioneer auctioneer starting in the early 1970's. He was presented the Little Red School House Award by the Newberry County School District . Mr. Sheppard is survived by his wife Margaret Coates Sheppard of the home; a daughter Shaye Sheppard Beall of Newberry; a son Vernon L. Sheppard Jr. of Taylors; three grandchildren Meghan Sheppard Beall Heather Shaye Beall and Hillary Ellen Sheppard; a sister Rosalyn Amick of Prosperity: and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Dewey and Carolyn Coates Billy and Lillian Coates Clyde and Debbie Coates Jack and Norma Coates Elizabeth Jones Ruby Hughes Carl Coates James and Doris Coates. He was predeceased by two brothers Bill and Robert and a sister Mildred. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Friday at the Whitaker Funeral Home in Newberry. The family will be at the residence 2903 Nance St. Newberry. Funeral services for Vernon Sheppard will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church by the Rev. Ron Smith. Interment will be in Newberry Memorial Gardens. Honorary pallbearers will be nephews; William Sheppard Lealon Amick Eddie Amick Dustin Coats Rob Byrd Neal Coats Gregg Coats Jeff Kestner Jack Day Billy Hughes Bill Switzer Charles L. Welling Donnie Lominack and Jeff Hunter. Memorials may be made to the Bethany Lutheran Church 2704 Nance St. Newberry SC 29108. Messages to the family may be sent via e-mail at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com. Whitaker Funeral Home 1704 College St. Newberry SC is assisting the family.