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Gayle Rapp Obituary - Hill Funeral Home

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Family will receive friends 2 to 4 PM Sunday, June 3, 2018 at HILL FUNERAL HOME, Westerville where services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday. Interment Blendon Central Cemetery.

Your smile and your quiet dignity touched many. Your dedication to serving others was foremost in your life. But the greatest gift you gave me was a love of the Lord. Gayle, we became fast friends in 7th grade and that friendship has traversed many gaps in communication over the years but you were always in my heart and your family were often "my family" as I was growing up in a tumultuous time in my young life. I thank you for sharing them with me in moments that mattered more than you would ever know. I pray God gave you the big hug and warm welcome you so richly deserved as you entered His gates. I love you, Brenda Lawhorn Teaster

Brenda (Lawhorn) Teaster

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Obituary for Gayle Rapp

Gayle Rapp 1944-2018

Gayle Rapp

01/03/1944 - 05/31/2018

Gayle Frances (Keener)(Raftery) Rapp, age 74, of Columbus Ohio, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2018 at the Memory Care Unit at Friendship Village of Columbus. She was born January 3, 1944 in Logan, WV. At age 10, her family moved to Columbus, Ohio and she graduated from Central High School in 1963. In 1964, she married Carl Raftery and began her family. On June 9, 1975 she began a career with Columbus City Schools, starting out in Food Services and quickly moved into management and retired on June 4, 2004. In her retirement, Gayle worked for the Ohio State Fair as a “Ticket Taker” and was soon promoted to management. She also worked for the Ohio State Association of Free Will Baptists. Gayle has a very strong “work ethic” and always put 100% into anything that she did. She made friends easily and was sensitive to the needs of those around her. Gayle surrendered her life to Christ in 1954 and became a member of the Maryetta United Baptist Church. After moving to Ohio, she attended the Columbus First Free Will Baptist Church and then to the Westerville Free Will Baptist Church. She served the church in many ways. She cared deeply for the shut-ins and visited them regularly.

In her later years, she attended both the Heritage Christian Church in Westerville and Westerville FWB Church. She enjoyed spending time with family, and taking walks in the park. She especially loved ice cream and Tim Horton’s coffee.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William R. Rapp, son Carl E. Raftery, father Walsh Keener and mother Lula (Tomlin) Keener and stepmother Amanda Keener. Gayle is survived by her twin daughters, Lynn (Brian) Manville and Lisa (Phil) Stearns. Grandchildren, Anthony (Rebecca) Raftery, Sean (Tiffany) Raftery, Kory (Katie) Stearns, Lyndsay (Ryan) Holmes, Nolan and Darin Manville. Great granddaughters Alexa Raftery, Shianne Raftery. Brother Paul (Sue) Keener, Sister Etta (Daryl) Crawmer and Step-sisters Barb (the late Gary) Cordle and Donna (James) Dean. Gayle leaves behind extended family, numerous cousins, and many good friends.

After the death of her husband last year, Gayle was able to stay in her home with the help of her nephew, Michael Crawmer and his wife Amy, who remained her primary caregivers until she needed “skilled memory care.” In early May, she became a resident of Friendship Village's “Memory Care Unit”.

We want to acknowledge the excellent care she received from Michael as well as both Mt. Carmel Hospice and Friendship Village. Gayle was treated with the upmost respect and dignity even when she was no longer able to respond. They were patient and kind in the manner they cared for her.

Gone from this earth, she will always be remembered as mom, grandma, Mimi, Sister, friend and "My favorite Aunt Gayle".

Family will receive friends 2 to 4 PM Sunday, June 3, 2018 at HILL FUNERAL HOME, Westerville where services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday. Interment Blendon Central Cemetery.