Robert Warren Kepple

Robert Warren Kepple has gone home to be with the Lord, having passed from this life on August 23, 2025, Midland, TX due to complications related to a recent diagnosis of stage 4 liver cancer.

Robert was born October 27,1958, in Fort Worth, Texas, and shares this birthday with his paternal twin brother born one hour earlier which made Robert the baby of five children.

He was preceded in death by his parents Howard A. Kepple and Martha Ann Warren; brother Howard Neil Kepple and granddaughter Kali Marie Rodriguez.

He is survived by his wife Sandy Kepple and daughter Shea Ferland, his son’s mother Fatima Kepple, their three sons; Johnathan Kepple, wife Jennifer, and children Brittni Peredes and Nolan Kepple, Jake Kepple, and Josh Kepple and his daughter Hayven Kepple, all of Midland: two older sisters, Barbara Grimmer and children Seth Grimmer, wife Jennifer, Isaac Grimmer, wife Claudia, Sarah Grimmer and partner Courtney Fuqua of Fredericksburg: sister Terry Anderson and her children Chandra Leigh and Charlie Acosta, Gabriel Harris of Glen Rose; twin brother John Lawerence Kepple, and his son Ian Kepple and wife Nicole of Midland; niece Anna Marie Kepple of Austin; step Mother Melanie F. Kepple of Lebanon, MO and many extended members of a wonderful family.

Robert’s father was an Independent Geologist whose work took the family overseas in the early 60’s. While abroad Robert attended an international school in Rome Italy, then moved to Tripoli Libya, and spent one summer in Somalia going on safaris with his father. As a family they traveled a lot in Europe and Africa and sailed for a week from Malta to Sicily. Much of his free time was spent at the beach and in the water. Robert shared many interesting and funny stories about their time abroad but would usually sum it up with “I wish I had been old enough to really appreciate those years”.  They moved back to Midland in 1970 where Robert attended Lee High School.

He worked summers on oil rigs and by the time he was 19 already owned a car, a boat, a motorcycle, and a mobile home. He said that he thought if he had all those things he would feel fulfilled. His life was completely redirected in 1982 when he experienced a total conversion while attending a Christian concert. He has said that he was “searching” for something and when the Lord took a hold of him, he knew his searching was over. By 1984 Robert started teaching an evening bible study group during the week. By 1988 he became the Youth Pastor at Cotton Flat Baptist Church. During those years he led a very large and extremely successful youth group ministry that was attended by kids from multiple local churches. Robert, Fatima and the boys took a lot of teenage kids into their home weekly for fun activities that kept those kids in a safe environment during their formative years. In April 1994 Robert became the Pastor at Ranchland Heights Baptist Church until late 2003.

Durning this time in his life he was bi-vocational. He was a Senior Account Manager of Production and Specialty Chemicals Salesmen for 30 years. His in depth down hole knowledge of the different oil fields in and around the Permian Basin and Eastern New Mexico proved to be invaluable to over 50 production companies, their foremen, and his peers. As recently as two months ago Robert was contacted by a fellow coworker to discuss his prior successful experience with dealing with a particular oilfield situation. Robert retired in November of 2021 and stayed in contact with many of his customers as they became family friends as well. All his sons have continued the oilfield Kepple legacy as they are very successful in their oilfield careers.

His legacy is one of faith, family and fishing anchored in God’s love and carried on in the memories of time spent together on the water. He shared his love for fishing with his wife, children, grandchildren and anyone else he could get on his boat. To him, a day spent on the water was a gift from God and one of his greatest joys was sharing that gift with others.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to your favorite charity would be a very meaningful tribute.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. A service will be held at Kelview Heights Baptist Church in Midland on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 1:00pm. A casual dinner reception will be at The Venue at Live Oaks located at 3201 Elkins Road in Midland at 6:00pm that evening.

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