Olin Rapp

OLIN LANKFORD RAPP

1935-2023

Olin Lankford Rapp, age 87, of Hobbs, NM, passed from this life to his eternal home on June 13, 2023.

Olin was born October 24, 1935, in Floydada, Texas to Van Calvin Rapp and Martha Evaline Sutton Rapp. He was an only child and spent his childhood working on the family’s farm and enjoyed playing guitar on their front porch, accompanying his dad’s banjo picking. After high school, he attended technical school in Lubbock where he obtained his certification in electronics and television repair.

He married Glynnis Ruth Sparks on November 25, 1955, and they moved to Plainview, TX then to Slaton, TX before settling in Hobbs, NM. A few years after moving to Hobbs, Olin started Rapp’s TV selling and servicing televisions and electronic equipment from 1962 until he retired in 2001. He was very active in the community for his entire life, serving in the Lea County Art Club, Kiwana’s Club, coaching boy’s baseball and serving as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon, and running the sound for several decades at Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, where they were members since 1965.

Olin was blessed with great talent, especially in art, music and carpentry. His paintings and drawings won several awards at County Fairs and art shows across the region. He also enjoyed listening to and playing bluegrass music on guitar and mandolin. He even custom built his own mandolin. He and Ruth enjoyed traveling to, and as a member of the Sagebrush 3 band, playing in bluegrass music festivals across the region.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Glynnis Ruth Rapp, sons Jim Rapp (Graciela), Joel Rapp (Kim), daughter Brenda Sue Rapp, grandchildren Leilani Rapp, Brianna Rapp (Alejandro Galindo), Trevor Rapp and Adrianna Grade. He was preceded in death by a stillborn grandchild, Samuel Olin Rapp.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Taylor Memorial Baptist Church or The Gideons International.