Merritt Leon Rapp

Merritt Leon Rapp, 95, passed away at home Monday, August 15, 2022. Visitation will be held at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6100 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas, on Sunday, August 21, 2022, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Burial will follow on August 27, at Beaver Union Cemetery, Beaver, Ohio. Merritt Rapp was the eighth of nine children born to Jacob and Bertha Rapp in Beaver, Ohio. He attended Beaver schools and graduated from Ohio University. He loved his hometown, visited every year, and followed local news in his hometown paper. He served in the Navy at the end of WWII and as a public school teacher for three years. He married Wanda Lee Maggard on May 20, 1951. He worked as an office manager for Lehigh-Hanson Cement for 36 years until his retirement. He was passionate about his family. He and his wife Wanda recently celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary. He was the father of four children who he loved very much. He was a huge fan of college basketball, old cars, and breakfast at Harold Waite’s Pancake House. He was very generous and liked to pick up the check. He was a resident of Waco for 46 years. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, as well as grandson Zachary Rodriguez. He is survived by his wife, Wanda Rapp; daughter, Susan Rodriguez, of Tyler, Texas; daughter, Karen Stone and husband, Marc, of Chardon, Ohio; son, Neil Rapp and wife, Dee, of Round Rock, Texas; son, Brian Rapp and wife, Karen, of Allen, Texas. He had nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made in his name to Community Health Care of Texas Hospice, 6700 Sanger Ave., Waco, TX 76710. We extend special thanks and acknowledgements to the hospice staff, especially Kathy Davis and Tish Gamm, who provided him excellent care and loving support. Donations for research may also be made in his name to Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our "Tribute Wall" at www.WHBfamily.com.