Rev. Edward E. Erpelding, Pastor CAPT, USN (RET), 85, of Fort Wayne, died Monday, June 1, 2026, at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Fr. Ed was born in Fort Wayne on July 30, 1940, the son of the late Cornelius B. and Silvina (Moser) Erpelding. He attended school at St. Andrew Catholic School and Central Catholic High School. He earned his Minor Seminary Certificate in 1960 from Our Lady of the Lake Seminary in Syracuse, IN. He continued his studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Norwood, OH, earning his BA in 1962 and MA in Theology in 1965. He also earned an MA in education from St Francis College in Fort Wayne in 1967. He pursued post graduate studies at Xavier University, Ball State University, Chapman University and Catholic University of America.

He was ordained to the Priesthood at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on May 28, 1966, by Bishop Leo Pursley. In 1966 he was appointed Associate Pastor at St. Vincent DePaul Parish in Fort Wayne and Instructor of Religion at Bishop Dwenger High School. In 1970, he was appointed Associate Pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Huntington and Principal of Huntington Catholic High School. Later in 1970, Fr. Ed received an appointment as a Chaplain in the US Naval Reserve. In 1971, he was appointed Principal at Marian High School in Mishawaka and assisted at St. Adalbert in South Bend. He spent the summer of 1972 in the Naval Chaplain Program and in the Fall of 1972, was appointed Associate Pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Fort Wayne. In 1974 he was appointed as the Diocesan Director of the Families for Prayer Program and later that year was released from his Diocesan obligations to join the US Navy Chaplain Corps.

His association with the Navy began years earlier; Fr. Ed volunteered and received ecclesiastical endorsement for service in the Chaplain Corps in 1968 and was appointed Lieutenant (JG) in the Chaplain Corps, US Naval Reserves; Lieutenant in 1970 and commissioned later that year. He served Navy Surface, Seabees and Marine units and completed Active-Duty training at Naval Operations Base in Norfolk VA, before graduating from Naval Chaplains School in 1972.

Ordered to Active Duty, he reported to the Coast Guard Training Center in Petaluma, CA, served as Pastor of Star of the Sea Naval Chapel, visited isolated Coast Guard units on the Pacific coast and served on Coast Guard Cutters from 1974-77. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and served as Senior Chaplain at the US Coast Guard Air Station in Kodiak Alaska from 1977-1978. Selected for Civilian Campus Studies, he was assigned to the Naval Education and Training Center in Newport RI from 1979-1982, he served as Pastor of the Chapel of Hope, Naval Correction Center, Naval Regional Medical Center, US Naval War College, and Surface Squadron and US Coast Guard units, during which he wrote several curriculum modules and taught at the Officer Candidate School. Selected for transfer from the Naval Reserves to US Navy, he was promoted to Commander and reported to the Third Marine Division at Okinawa Japan. He served as Regimental and Camp Chaplain at the USCG

LORAN station in Gusashi. He then deployed to Korea with the 4th Marine Regiment on the USS DENVER (LPD-9) and later reassigned to the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi TX. He reported to the USS GUAM (LPH-9) as Ship’s Chaplain for Sea Duty, cross checked to the USS GUADALCANAL with additional duty at Amphibious Group SIX, participating in operations Freedom of the Seas, Ernest Will, and Nimble Archer in the Persian Gulf in 1987. Returning to Norfolk, he deployed on the USS GUAM until reassignment as Director-CREDO, San Diego, from 1988-1991. Promoted to Captain, he was assigned to serve as Command Chaplain Naval Submarine Base New London and Submarine Group Two, from 1991-1993. He reported for duty as Command Chaplain of the USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69) and Commander Eisenhower Battle Group from 1994-1996, participating in operations: Restore Democracy (Haiti-1994) Vigilant Warrior and Southern Watch (Persian Gulf 1994) Provide Comfort, Sharp Guard and Deny Flight (Adriatic Sea-1994-1995). His Awards include: Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (Gold Star) Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Battle Efficiency E Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal (Bronze Star) Armed Forces Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2 Bronze Stars) Navy-Marine Corps. Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.

After retirement from 25 years of Active Duty in the US Navy, Fr. Ed returned to the Diocese and was appointed Pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish in Syracuse in 1996, a 3-yr term as Regional Vicar Forane for Vicariate C in 1997, elected to serve on the Presbyteral Council in 1999, another 3-yr term as Regional Vicar Forane for Vicariate C in 2000; Pastor of St. Joseph Parish at Hessen Cassel in 2002, Pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parsh in Avilla in 2006 and Priest Chaplain at Parkview Regional Medial Center in 2012. Fr. Erpelding retired on October 1, 2016.

He is survived by his brother, Joseph (Peg) Erpelding of Craigville, IN and several nieces & nephews. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brothers, John, William and Eugene Erpelding, and sisters, Sr. Cecelia Marie Erpelding, OSF and Marilyn McKee.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am Tuesday June 9, 2026 at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, 1502 E. Wallen Rd. with visitation from 10-11am. Visitation is also from 2-7pm Monday in the church, with the Vigil Service at 7:00pm. Fr. Ed will be buried in Catholic Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangements through Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. To share a remembrance of Fr. Ed Erpelding or to offer condolences, please visit www.divinemercyfuneralhome.com.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.    -Amen. 

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