Dr. Carl Steven Rapp

Dr. Carl Steven Rapp, age 74, of Abingdon, Virginia, peacefully entered the presence of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 14, 2022. He was born on November 1, 1947 in Raysal, WV. He was a member of the Abingdon Bible Church in Abingdon, Virginia. One of Steve’s favorite Bible verse was Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Steve’s unwavering faith in His Heavenly Father was the foundation which he built His life. Steve loved studying God’s Word, attending Bible study, Sunday School and church. In addition to being a faithful and dedicated husband and father, Steve loved the outdoors. He loved to hike to waterfalls, camping, fishing, photography, traveling and enjoyed spending time with those he loved. Steve had a passion for teaching in high school and college level for 52 years. The most precious reward Steve found in teaching was leaving good memories and one of the most precious moments in his life happened when former students greeted him with a smile or stopped to share a conversation or when one of them approached him with respect and proudly introduced him: “He was my teacher!.” His students learned from all the research that was brought into the classroom. Teaching is one profession that creates all other professions. Steve began his career as a junior high teacher in Iaeger, WV in 1969. In 1973, he began teaching Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. In 1989, Steve moved to Abingdon, Virginia to begin teaching at East Tennessee State University. In 1998, he began teaching Physics, Astronomy, Robotics and Engineering at the A. Linwood Holton Governor’s School. He was adjunct professor for Central Virginia Community College and Wytheville Community College until his full retirement in December 2021. Steve loved to learn and enjoyed research work. His students were able to do observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope. He would take yearly trips with his students to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, WV where they learned to use the telescopes. He also did research work for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Kitt Peak National Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Some of his favorite times was doing research work through NASA at the Baylor University in Waco, Texas for seven years and too many more to mention. Steve was honored with many awards and honors too many to mention but a few are the National Teacher’s Hall of Fame, Northeast Tennessee Chemistry Teacher of the year, NASA Honors Award for Exceptional Science Teaching, Virginia’s Technology Educator of the Year, Subaru National Science Teaching Award, Gustav Ohaus Award, Virginia Association of Science Teachers Award for Excellence in teaching Physics, Computer Technology Award, Tandy Technology Prize for Excellence in Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science. Steve was greeted in Heaven by his son, Christopher Joseph Rapp; mother, Nola Mullins Rapp; father, Millard “Buss” Rapp; brother, Jeffrey Rapp; maternal grandparents, Lum and Virginia Mullens; paternal grandparents, Carl and Mae Rapp; brother-in-law, Charles Reed; nephew, Joseph Reed. Left to cherish his memory are: His faithful wife of 51 years: Mary Mitros Rapp Son: Steven Rapp of Abingdon, Virginia Mother and Father-in-Law: George and Yolanda Mitros of Welch, WV Brothers-In-Law: Larry Cook of Princeton, WV and Pete Mitros of Winston Salem, NC Sisters-In-Law: Christine Cook of Princeton, WV, Jeanne Reed of Welch, WV, Donna Mitros of Winston Salem, NC Niece: Sarah Reed Nephew: Larry Cook and wife, Emily and son, Rowan Two Very Special Friends he has known for his entire life: Rachel and Jerry Smithers. Steve is also survived by numerous loved cousins, friends, and his Abingdon Bible Church Family. The family would especially like to thank his faithful hospice nurses Ashley, Kristi, and Mary for their compassion, loving care, kindness, and patience. Funeral services for Dr. Carl Steven Rapp will be conducted on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 7:00 pm at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, Virginia with Dr. Paul Bufford officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Virginia on Friday, October 21, 2022 at 2 pm. Those wishing to attend are asked to be at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home by 1:30 pm. Pallbearers will be: Lenny Ballard, Billy Dunkley, Ram Tankersley, Billy Wimmer, Randall Eads, Pete Mitros, Jerry Smithers, and Monty Vernon. The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 20, 2022 from 5 pm until 7 pm at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Steve’s name to the Abingdon Bible Church, 16210 Elementary Drive, Abingdon, VA 24210 and be designated for the Missions Fund. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com

Dr. Carl Steven Rapp

November 1, 1947 - October 14, 2022