John Franklin Rapp, 93, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 4, 2021, at Truman Lake Manor nursing home in Lowry City, MO. He was born on October 30, 1928, to Carl and Emma May (Haverland) Rapp at their home northwest of Lowry City, in a community called Valley Center.
Franklin spent 8 years in a one room schoolhouse called Valley Center and the next four years at Lowry City High School, where he graduated. He was class president and he played basketball. Franklin knew at an early age that farming was not the plan for his future. He wanted a career in flying planes!
After high school he went to work for a brief time at harvester, Inc for his uncle Chris, where he helped in the parts department. In 1949, at the age of 19, he was accepted as a Cadet in the United States Air Force. In just 13 months he achieved his dream to fly, starting his career as a pilot and a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force. He spent the next 3 and a half years flying to Europe, in twin and four engine aircrafts, carrying military passengers and cargo.
Then he was transferred to Charleston, SC. But he still flew to Europe, North Africa, Canada, and South America. Many of his flights carried NASA personnel and supplies to Brazil and surrounding islands. Little did he know that he would be involved in the recovery of astronauts and capsules in the early manned space missions. He coordinated those efforts at NASA Mission Control in Houston, TX, where he retired from the military in 1971.
Franklin also served in Vietnam in the early 1960’s as a military advisor and earned numerous military commendations. His service to the South Vietnamese Air Force was greatly appreciated and he received the Air Force commendation from their government. All totaled in his Air Force career, he received 14 military medals.
He married a German girl while stationed in Germany and had two sons with her, Brian and Glenn, but was divorced soon after returning to the states.
It was 3 years after he returned from Vietnam that he met his true love and the best friend that he ever had, Carol P. Morton. Carol had 3 children: David, Catherine and Robert (Chip). They married and enjoyed more than 40 years together.
In 1974 the moved to Deepwater, MO and built a home on the Rapp farm, which is very close to the home where he was born. There they enjoyed a great life fishing, traveling, and working on the farm. They seemed never happier than when they were working together – and took time to visit one of their time shares or to go fishing.
Franklin had a love for a good ice cream and watching shows like Gunsmoke. He always did his best to tend to the farm work, even up to his very last days. The epitome of a good neighbor, he always made sure to take care of those around him, and he always made sure to return their Tupperware when neighbors and friends brought him food.
He was a member of the Valley Center United Church of Christ. He was instrumental in planning and building the church that they are in today, after the previous church burned. He also played a big part in publishing the church’s history book since he had a lot of their history and an interest in genealogy.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carol; his parents, Carl and Emma May Rapp; his brother William (Bill) Rapp and his wife Thelma, stepson David Allen Morton and stepdaughter Catherine Ann Morton Winslow.
Franklin is survived by Carol’s son, Robert (Chip) Morton, who lives in Fallbrook, CA and his two sons Glenn and Brian (wife sue) who live in Tupelo, MS. Between his and Carols children are 12 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He has one surviving brother Robert (Bob) Rapp (wife Rose.)
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