George R. Rapp, 94, of Sacramento, California passed away on Sunday, January 16, 2022 at the Sunny Peace care home in Sacramento.
George was born on May 7, 1927 to Andrew and Louise Rapp. He grew up on the family farm in New Paris, Indiana with four sisters (Rose and Mildred Rapp, Lucille Smith, and Esther Houston) and three brothers (Elmer, Floyd, and Harry Rapp). George attended New Paris High School, and like a proud Hoosier, he played on his high school basketball team, perfecting his ball fake, turnaround jump shot.
In 1951, George married Sara Stookey, who preceded him in death in 1980. George and Sara had three children, Jeanette, Linda, and Douglas. Following his service in the U.S. Air Force and employment at the Martin Company, George moved to Sacramento in 1964 to pursue his dream of owning his own business. He opened an equipment rental franchise in a small, leased building on Franklin Blvd. in south Sacramento, and following several years of growth, George left the franchise and established Action Rentals, moving to his own new building and yard at 6181 Franklin Blvd. (across the street from the former Campbell Soup factory). Action Rentals is still owned by the family and continues to operate today. With his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, George liked to say: “I might have made something of myself if I had gone to college!”
In 1986, George married Rosemary Bird. George and Rosemary enjoyed many happy years of marriage until Rosemary’s passing in 2019, highlighted by the births of many grandchildren (followed by many birthday parties and visits to Disneyland), trips to Europe (including his father’s homeland in Germany), cruises to Alaska and Hawaii, and many drives across the country to visit relatives in Indiana and Illinois. George became a member of the Catholic Church in 2013.
George was also preceded in death by his four sisters, three brothers, and his daughter, Linda Rapp, who passed away in 2011.
George is survived by his daughter, Jeanette Silva, his son, Douglas Rapp, his stepdaughters, Laura Gonsalves and Pamela Bird, and his stepsons, Ronald Bird, Todd Bird, and Troy Bird. George is also survived by his grandchildren, Cecilia Silva, Camille Silva, Alexandra Carrigan, Cassandra Rapp, Brian McKenna, Meghan McCarty, Abygail Bird, Austin Johnson, Cameron Johnson, Olivia Johnson, Ashley Bird, Grant Bird, Sophia Bird, Jennifer Ramos, Daniel Bird, Nicole Bird, Matthew Bird, Mazie Bird, and Delaney Bird. George is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Kendra, Madelyne, William, Luke, Kayden, Ainsley, Jackson, and Dylan.
George will be interred alongside Rosemary at St. Mary Cemetery in Sacramento.
