HERBERT MERRELL RAPP, 70, died in Ranger,
TX on Aug. 5, 1981. He was born Oct. 13, 1910,
in Tunnellton, PA, to John A. & Anna Shawfield
Rapp He moved to Ranger, TX in 1920 & attended
Ranger High School in the Class of 1930/1931. He
served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He married
Alice Ellison in 1939 and they operated the Tower
Theater in downtown Ranger. Later he built the
Ranger Drive-In Theater and retired in 1978 after
32 years. He had three brothers; Lowell Rapp
(RHS-1934), Elvon Rapp (RHS-1933), & Jack Rapp
(RHS-1938); and a sister, Gladys Rapp Wallis
(RHS-1929). Burial was at Evergreen Cemetery
in Ranger.
Herbert & Alice driving around to towns
in the 40s showing movies before opening
the Tower Theater. The movie "Reap of the
Wild Wind" was released in 1942 staring
John Wayne.
Herbert & daughter Gail
WIFE: ALICE ELIZABETH ELLISON RAPP,
75 died Dec. 7, 1993, in Fort Worth, TX.
She was born Sept. 15, 1915 in Pollonotomie, OK,
coming to Ranger in 1933. She & her husband
Herbert Rapp (RHS-1930) owned the Tower Theater
in downtown Ranger and later the Ranger Drive-In
Theater. She also worked for Daisy Motley Grocery
in Ranger. They had a daughter, Gail Rapp Hagar
(RHS-1960). Burial was at the Evergreen Cemetery
in Ranger.