Date of death: 1/12/2021
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1978
Harold Eugene Tepool, 68, who taught for nearly 29 years as a professor of business at Vincennes University, died Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 8:23 a.m. at Deaconess Midtown Hospital.
Harold was born in Evansville, Indiana, on June 13, 1952, the first child of Violet (Allen) and Harold E. Tepool, Sr.
Harold grew up on the west side of Evansville with his three younger sisters, Judith, Karen, and Mary Kay, and graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1970. Harold’s father and uncle operated Tepool’s Drug Store at 2027 West Franklin Street (founded by Harold’s grandfather Clement J. [Olive] Tepool), and his childhood memories there inspired a lifelong commitment to serving Evansville’s west side.
Harold attended the Saint Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Indiana from 1970-1974. Deciding the Priesthood was not for him, Harold moved west to Colorado Springs, Colorado to manage a Radio Shack for a few years and take in the beauty of the Rocky Mountain Front Range.
Upon the birth of his first nephew, Harold moved back home and found rewarding work as a probation officer for the Posey County Circuit Court under the tutelage of Hon. James M. Redwine.
In these years, he also studied communication and theatre arts at the University of Southern Indiana (then Indiana State University Evansville), graduating in 1980—a period during which many happy memories were made with friends in the Evansville theatre community. Harold completed a graduate degree in public administration at Indiana State University in 1986.
From 1987-2015, Professor Tepool took great pride in the success of his business students at Vincennes University, encouraging student membership and service within the school’s chapter of international business honor society Alpha Beta Gamma as the chapter’s faculty adviser for many years. Harold established a book stipend scholarship in memory of his mother for Alpha Beta Gamma chapters, which can be applied for annually at abg.org/grants-and-scholarships.
Harold was an active member of the West Side Nut Club and VFW Post #1114.
Harold was preceded in death by his father in 1984, mother in 2002, and aunt Mary “Jackie” (Allen) Breivogel in 1994.
He is survived by his daughter Annie (Brent) Tremelling and granddaughter Eva of Colorado Springs; sisters Judy (Rick) Vindhurst of Evansville, Karen Meier of Ft. Branch, Indiana, and Mary Kay (Don) Glinis of Evansville; nephews Rick (April) Vindhurst Jr. of Henderson, Kentucky and Joey (Kelsey) Meier of St. Wendel, Indiana; nieces Elizabeth Vindhurst of Evansville, Jessica (Andy) Knapp of Ft. Branch, and Kimberly (Andy) Goldman of Evansville; uncle Jerry (Joyce) Allen and their children Jeff and Jena; many cousins; and many great-nieces and nephews.