F.W. Epperson dies - -invented Popsicle Frank W. Epperson, and a prominent Oakland 1920s, 30s and 40s, died was 89 years old. Services will be held Sisters of the Holy Family Motherhouse Chapel, Washington Blvd., Fremont. He will be buried the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. A rosary will be said Tuesday 7:30 p.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel. San Epperson's young. reflected the creative ergy and entrepreneurial optimism of Oakland's velopment in the 1920s. He owned a realty inventor of the Popsicle entrepreneur in the Saturday in Fremont. He 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Frank W. Epperson Oakland booster company during the property boom that saw the construction of large housing tracts in West Oakland and Montclair. He gave public speeches on property develop. ment, coining the slogan "picturesque Oakland the ideal place to raise a healthy family." Epperson was also a pilot in the early days of aviation. Elected the first local president of Citizens Aviation Association in 1928, he worked to promote commercial flying in Oakland. He designed a rotary engine for airplanes. In 1922, he invented a Sunday treat, fruitflavored ice on a stick, which he patented as the "Epsicle," but sold the rights in 1929. It became the still-popular Popsicle. Epperson founded the Hi-Dry Fruit Products Corp., which sold another invention, a dry drink mix that was a forerunner of Kool-Aid and Tang. He devoted his later years to community work. After his retirement, the family moved to Fremont in 1968. Epperson was a member of Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Legion of Mary. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Oakland. He and his wife eloped in 1911 and were married 70 years before Mary Frances Epperson died last year at the age of 86. Epperson was survived by his children, Don Epperson of Auburn, Sister Serena S.H.F. of Mission San Jose, George Epperson of San Rafael, John Epperson of Orinda, Teresa Epperson of Mill Valley, Joseph Epperson of Moraga, Margaret SeBour of Maryland, Leo Epperson of Hayward, 20 grandchildren and 11. great-grandchildren. One child. Francis Epperson, predeceased him.