Melvin “Mel” Eugene Rape
Melvin “Mel” Eugene Rape, 86, of Zelienople passed away Tuesday while under the care of the VA Butler Healthcare.
Born Sept. 14, 1929, in Zelienople, he was the son of the late Albert H. and Jennie H. (McDonough) Rape.
Mel served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. He assembled machinery for Universal, Tru Flow and Robinson until retirement. After he retired, he volunteered at the day care center at the Zelienople Methodist Church.
He was also a member of St. Peter's Reformed Church. Mel will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather who was incredibly selfless, humble and an overall good man. He cherished the time he spent with his family, especially his grandchildren when he taught them to play chess and checkers. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his beloved wife, Arlene Pearl Rape of Zelienople, who he married Dec. 14, 1953; his children, Dale (Rosann) Rape of Butler, Gail Rape of Evans City, Larry Rape of Fombell and Roger (Tracy) Reeb of Centerville, Ohio; his 10 grandchildren, Kim, Mike, Dan, Amy, Jennifer, Tanya, Kevin, Steve, Adam and Ben; and his 12 great-grandchildren, Noah, Jonah, Ethan, Cayden, Deklan, Dylan, Drew, Alexa, Gideon, Violet, Cole and Olivia.
In addition to his parents, Mel was preceded in death by two brothers, Alvin and Elmer Rape.
RAPE — The family of Melvin “Mel” Eugene Rape, who died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, will welcome friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home, 219 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople.A funeral service with full military honors will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. James R. Bertoti officiating.He will be laid to rest at St. Peter's Reformed Church Cemetery in Zelienople.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.
