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. She was born Sept. 15,
1915 in Pollonotomie, OK, coming to Ranger in
1933. She and 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.