RAPLEY, JOHN H.

On May 19, 2007, John Howard Rapley, Sr., 82, died at a local hospital surrounded by the love of his son and daughter. He was born in Hot Springs, AR on July 25, 1924 to Frank M. Rapley and Nina Rife Rapley.

At age 16, John enlisted in the Marine Corps and served with the Marine Raiders from June 1941 until April 1947. He served with the Second Raider Battalion in the Solomon Islands Campaign. He then was with the 5th Marine Division that fought on Iwo Jima in 1945. Shortly after that, John served in the Occupation of Japan.

Upon his return, John and his former wife, Jimmie Lee Penny Rapley, attended Henderson State University and he graduated in 1950. In 1956 he received his Masters Degree in School Administration from George Peabody College in Nashville, TN. Having fallen in love with California while in the Marines, he relocated his family to the beautiful seaside community of Santa Monica, CA in 1955. He taught mathematics at Lincoln Jr. High from 1955 until his retirement in 1979.

John is survived by his son, John Rapley, Jr., of Hot Springs, AR: his daughter, Suzanne E. Rapley, Ph.D. of Santa Barbara, CA; his granddaughter, Ari Margot Rapley Janoff, age 14; and his loving brother David Rapley of Hot Springs, AR.

Please join his family and friends for a memorial service and picnic lunch at the Hot Springs Country Club on Friday, May 25, 2007, starting at 11:00 a.m. The memorial will be an opportunity to celebrate the love and joyous spirit that John Howard Rapley shared with the world. He is forever in our hearts!