Helen Amelia Roderick Rapp
Helen Amelia Roderick Rapp, 93, of California, Pa., died Thursday, February 7, 2008.
She was born Monday, September 28, 1914,… Helen Amelia Roderick Rapp, 93, of California, Pa., died Thursday, February 7, 2008.
She was born Monday, September 28, 1914, in Dunbar Twp., Fayette County, a daughter of the late Charles G. Roderick and Amelia Williams Roderick.
She attended the old Republican grade school from 1921-1928, and graduated from East Pike Run Twp. High School in 1932. Following her graduation in 1936 from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, she worked in Youngstown, Ohio, until after her January 1, 1939 marriage to Wilbur A. Rapp, a high school teacher and athletic coach.
She was a member of the California United Methodist Church, the California Historical Society, and the Girl Scouts, where she was instrumental in the development of the program and served in some capacity for more than 25 years. Mrs. Rapp was always active with various projects throughout the California community. Her ancestry can be dated back to the founding of California.
Mrs. Rapp may be remembered as owner and operator of the California News Stand which she sold to Redstone Pharmacy when she retired on January 1, 1983. The News Stand was originally established by her father, Mr. Roderick, in 1920, who continued it until his retirement, July 1, 1947, when it was taken over by Mr. and Mrs., Rapp. They operated it until Mr. Rapp’s death, and after that Mrs. Rapp continued it alone. At the time of her retirement, it was the oldest business in California that had been operated by the same family.
In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband on February 11, 1974, two sisters, Marguerite Swisher and Ethel Jones, and two brothers, Charles Williams Roderick and Norman Howard Roderick.
Left to cherish her memory are her three children: son, Charles A. Rapp and wife, Susan, of California, Joyce Bleby of Bridgewater, South Australia (SA) and Marianne Whitehead of California, Pa. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Agnes Roderick of Novato, CA. Further blessings were added with the arrival of nine grandchildren: Debra Rapp Moore and husband, Thomas E. Moore Jr., Darlene Rapp Sargent of Hollywood, Md., Dale Rapp of Coal City, IL., Hannah Bleby Orford and husband, Anthony of Canberra, ACT Australia, Sarah Bleby of Bridgewater, SA, Matthew Bleby and wife, Lauren of Mt. Torrens, SA, Denise Whitehead Roadman and husband, George of Shrewsbury, MA, Kristine Whitehead Doppelheuer and husband, Michael of California, Pa. and Ryan Whitehead of Erie, Pa. and seven great-grandchildren: Ian and Seth Moore, Kyle Sargent, Samuel Orford, Tyson Bleby, Grady Roadman, and Kole Doppelheuer.
Friends will be received in the MARISCOTTI FUNERAL HOME, INC., Anthony N. Mariscotti, Supervisor, 323 Fourth Street, California, Pa., today, February 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Services will be held in the California United Methodist Church Monday, February 11, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Thomas Chacko officiating.
Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery.