John Phillip Rapp

John P. Rapp, 83 of Midlothian, Virginia, passed away peacefully in his home on July 16, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kathleen Rapp; son, Jason Rapp (Andrea Rapp); daughter, Meredith Perry (Greg Perry); and granddaughter, Kendall Coleman. John, son of Frank and Cecelia Rapp, was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Ursinus College and earned a Juris Doctor from Temple University. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Underwriting Counsel for Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company in Philadelphia before relocating to Virginia when the company was sold to Lawyers Title and became LandAmerica Financial Group. John and his wife, Kathleen, raised their two children in Yardley, Pennsylvania.On Monday, July 22, 2024 at 10 AM, a funeral Mass will be held at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church in Powhatan, Virginia. A private interment will take place at Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia, Virginia. 

Letters to My Dad/Husband

Dear Dad, 

Every girl deserves a father like you. I am blessed to have a father who is a simple, sensitive, and humble man – a man who loves my mother and treats her as a priceless gift, a man who shows Jason and me how to respect the dignity of every individual, a man who knows how to laugh and cry, a man who is intellectually curious, a man who is a talented musician and orator, a man who prioritizes his family over any other thing in life. If every girl had a father like you, the brokenness in the world felt by so many would cease to exist. 

On the night you died, Nanny and Pop-Pop, Tired Nanny, Great Grandmom, Uncle Eddie, Christina, and even Elvis, surrounded you with open arms. It brings me comfort knowing that you are no longer suffering or in any pain. Yet, my heart is broken by the harsh reality that we have to adjust to life on earth without you. As was often the case, your words echo in my mind and soothe my aching heart: “You are a Rapp.” This phrase uttered numerous times was always your rallying cry to help us focus on persevering come what may and to reach new heights in our lives. Dad, I promise you that I will not dwell on the pain I feel, that Jason and I will take care of Mom, and that I will continue to cherish the forty-seven years God blessed me with you as my earthly father. 

Now more than ever, I am drawing inspiration from my favorite John P. saying: “Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.” In a perfect life, you would still be here with us. When I allow your adage to buoy me now, as it has so many times before, all the good that you brought to my life floods my mind and heart: demonstrating how a husband truly loves a wife, comforting me when I hurt, teaching me to drive, providing precious wisdom and advice, editing my papers, clipping pertinent comic strips for me, singing with our family, playing cards, and defending me with a father’s vigor. Nevertheless, there is one situation where I know that the perfect will take center-stage. I look forward to the next time I can share a perfect dance with my favorite dance partner. 

Dad, I love you. I miss you so much. I am eternally grateful for your love, nurturing, and support. I will not say goodbye; rather, I will be seeing you. 

Eternal rest grant unto my dad, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

All my love, 

Meri

PS: Your velvet tiger print is safe with me. 

Dear Dad:

What do you write to the man who gave you everything? There is no permutation of “thank you,” that can possibly encapsulate how richly blessed I am to have you as my dad. You always gave me the greatest gifts a dad can give his child, his time and attention. Through your genuine interest in me, spending time with me and going through life with me you showed me that I really mattered. I always felt safe going to sleep every night. You, along with Mom, were the reasons for that.

When I think of our relationship, I will always be the eight-year-old boy playing catch with you in the backyard. Those were times of bonding, friendship, mentorship and learning. That was the relationship you created between us thanks to your willingness to share your life with me. As the years went on, whether it was actually playing catch, riding in the car together or talking on the phone, those things you provided were always there. No matter where we were or what we were doing, we were always playing catch in the backyard.

You were highly successful in your career. Yet, you did not brag, boast or even talk much about it. That is because it did not define you. It was what you did for a living, not who you were. You were, simply, irrevocably and beautifully a husband and dad. Those same things you blessed me with, your time, attention, wisdom, humor and kindness I saw you freely giving to Mom and Meredith as well.

I guess that is the point of this. You didn’t need to talk about what it means to be a man, husband and dad. You showed it by living it. I can tell you that I learned more from simply watching how you treated Mom, Meredith and others than I ever could from a thousand books. Your example was all I ever needed. In the fifty-one years we knew each other, I can honestly say that I was never once disappointed by you.

Whether you knew it or not, what you talked about, how you lived and the advice you gave can be found throughout the Bible. Your teachings, probably unbeknownst to you, were scriptural in their foundation. It brought me such joy when I asked you one time whether you knew that Jesus Christ was the way, the truth and the life and you replied, through acknowledging tears, “Yes.” That may be the best game of catch we ever played.

As I go through life, now a husband and father, not a day goes by that I do not consider your example when faced with a question or issue. You still lead me as a husband, a father, a man and an attorney. I still watch you for your example. My wife, Andrea, and our daughter, Kendall, are blessed and protected for two reasons. The first is Jesus Christ. The second is you and what you taught me. I promise that I will always follow your example with them and that I will also always look out for Mom and Meredith.

There are so many people in this world who strive for greatness, as defined through earthly terms. Not enough people long to be good as defined in the realm of the eternal. Dad, thank you for being the best good man that I have ever met. I will always cherish our time together. I will always look up to you and I know we will play another game of catch. Thank God for my dad.

--Jason Rapp

Dear John,

God gave me the gift of you, and I am so grateful to Him for the fifty-five years we spent together as man and wife. But now I ache, and you are not here to soothe my fears, my pain, nor wipe my tears away, like you had done so many times in the past. You were the rock I always leaned on—that rock is no more. I can never again reach out and touch you, and I can only hear your voice in my mind. I’m left with only memories of your love, your kindness, your empathy, your encouragement, your strength, and your devotion to me, Jason, and Meredith. I will tightly hold on to them and savor every one of them. Saying goodbye hurts so bad because our life together felt so good. 

I love you, John and miss you so much. Thank you for being you—God’s shining example of a virtuous man, a wonderful husband and father.

Love always,

Kathy