SR0668 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0668 LRB095 20898 GRL 49796 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Esther Caroline Ford Rapp of Wood River, who passed away on April 19, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Esther Rapp was born on September 24, 1917 in East Alton; his parents were Roy E. Ford and Sarah Margaret (DeSilvey) Ford; she married John P. Rapp on July 8, 1970 in Centralia; he preceded her in death on April 26, 1999; and

WHEREAS, Esther Rapp often reminisced about her childhood years, which were filled with memories of the tile works once located on present Olin property and adjacent to the boarding house that belonged to her grandmother, Nancy (Stephens) DeSilvey; and

WHEREAS, Esther Rapp proudly served her country during World War II, enlisting in the United States Army Air Corps; and

WHEREAS, Esther Rapp was active in American Legion Post 794 in East Alton; as a 41-year member, she served in many positions at the Post, including post commander, auxiliary president, and post chaplain; her proudest moments with the Legion consisted of serving as chaplain for Post 794's Ritual Team; she remained active in this position until 2006, when her health began to decline; and

WHEREAS, Esther Rapp had a great love for her country and had great love and respect for the American flag; and

WHEREAS, Esther Rapp was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her brother, Kenneth Ford; and her sisters, Lorena Ford Miller, Ruth Winifred, and Mildred Ford Rogers; and

WHEREAS, Esther Rapp is survived by Cathy Jo Lewis Wilkey (Mike), Saralca Lewis Sladek (Gregg), Sondra Moore Jackson (Denis), James H. Sauerwein (Betty), and John P. Rapp II ; her grandchildren, Jamie Schroeder, Carrie Schroeder, Michael Barnett, Carol Barnett, Tanner Singh, Jason Sauerwein, Evelyn Stahl, and Charles, Denise, Stephen, Kenneth, and David Jackson; and her 10 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Esther Rapp; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Esther Rapp as an expression of our sympathy.