Melvin "Rip" Dean Rapose

Melvin Dean "Rip" Rapose, 64, of Grants Pass, passed away May 31, 2011 at his home after a 19 year battle with advanced prostate cancer. A celebration of his life with military honors will be held Saturday, June 11th 1:00 PM atFirst Christian Church. 305 SW H Street, in Grants Pass with Wes Winn Pastor officiating. Contributions in lieu of flowers: PAACT Inc. Patient Advocates for Advanced Cancer Treatments - PO Box 141695 Grand Rapids, MI 49514 or Prostate Cancer Research Institute 5777 W Century Blvd. Ste 800, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Rip was born on February 12, 1947 in Yuba City, California to James and Irene Rapose. He served in the United States Navy from February 12, 1964 until his honorable discharge on February 11, 1970. During that time, he spent two years on Midway Island. Rip worked most of his life as a Manufacturing/Engineering Instructor, teaching at Coosa Valley Technical College in Rome, Georgia until he retired in 1993 and then part-time at Rogue Community College in Grants Pass, Oregon. He moved to Grants Pass from Rome, Georgia in 1994. He and his wife Ali were married on June 19, 1994 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Rip enjoyed woodworking, gardening, design (CAD), traveling, golfing and especially spending time with family. He was president and founding director of the Southern Oregon Cancer Awareness Network, co-facilitator and founder of the Southern Oregon Prostate Cancer Support Group, member of First Christian Church, member of the American Legion, past President of the American Cancer Society of Josephine County and Grand Marshall of the Relay for Life in 1996. In addition to his wife Ali Rapose he is survived by his six children; daughter Michelle Winters of Rome, GA; 5 sons, Shaun Rapose of Rome, GA, Christian Muna of Milliken, CO, Kerry Bruce of Glennville, GA, Joshua Cutino of Newport News, VA (currently serving in Afghanistan) and Peter Cutino of Grants Pass, OR; parents James and Irene Rapose of Marina, CA; 4 brothers, Jerry Smith of Roseburg, OR, Marvin Rapose of Canyonville, OR, Jim Rapose of Salinas, CA and Irliss Rapose of PA and 1 sister, Virginia Williams of Salinas, CA, 13 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. He is preceded in death by two sons, Kip Rapose and Justin Cutino and a brother, David L. Smith,

Service Information

Saturday, June 11th, 2011 1:00pm, First Christian Church

Interment Details

Hawthorne Memorial Gardens