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Rapalus, Henry - RM  DD-350

 

 

Mr. Henry Rapalus, 84, of Rockville, died Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at his home, surrounded by his family.

Born March 12, 1923, in Easthampton, Mass., he was the son of the late Ignatius and Victoria Rapalus.

He was the devoted husband of Jennie K. Rapalus, his wife of 57 years.

Following Northampton Vocational School and Eastern Radio Institute, Mr. Rapalus enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to duty as a Radio Operator on the USS Hull in Pearl Harbor. He was aboard the Hull during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Selected to attend V-12 Officers Training Program at the University of Michigan, he earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.

On May 12, 1949, he married Jennie Kozikowski of Suffield, Conn. He and his family relocated to the Washington area in 1951, when he was attached to the Naval Security Group Activity at Cheltenham. After 13 years of service with the Navy, he retired from the military, accepting a position with the National Security Agency in Fort Meade. After retiring from the federal government, Mr. Rapalus worked for the Antenna Research Association in Beltsville. He retired as the director of marketing/sales, vice president and member of the Knights of Columbus and the Civil Defense Organization.

In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by seven children, Henry W. Rapalus Jr., of Rockville, Christine Carter and husband Landon, of Frederick, Paul Rapalus and wife Baylor, of Frederick, Tom Rapalus, of Rockville, Ann Bennett, of Emmitsburg, Jane McCaffrey and husband Mitch, of Annandale, and Robert Rapalus and wife Susan, of Gardiner, Mich.

Mr. Rapalus, also known as Dziadzi (Polish grandfather) to family and friends, was also survived by 16 grandchildren, Sarah Peveler and husband Frank, Courtney Rapalus, Paul Rapalus Jr., Jenna Miller, Erin Miller, Colton Carter, Jessica Eiker and husband John, Maddison Louden, Riley Louden, Charlotte Louden, Robert J. Rapalus, Christopher Rapalus, Sharon Kilby, Brian Kilby, Trazelle Allen and Henry Blackburn; great-granddaughters Kylie Eiker and Madalyn Eiker; brother Ted Rapalus, of Pebble Beach, Calif., and many in-laws, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Francis Rapalus and son-in-law, John Bennett.

There will be a Funeral Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rockville at 1 p.m. Monday, April 30. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fredericknewspost/obituary.aspx?n=Henry-Rapalus&pid=168463149#sthash.8SAUfB2L.dpuf