John “Paul” Kapp, 93, of Oil City, and formerly of Clarion, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Sunday, March 15th, at UPMC Northwest in Seneca.
Born in Venus on September 24, 1921, Paul was the son of Charles Arthur and Flora Shorts Kapp. He graduated from Ashland High School in 1939 and from Clarion State Teachers’ College and the University of Pittsburgh. In 1971 he was awarded a Master’s Degree in Communications from Clarion University. For the majority of his career, Paul was an industrial arts teacher at Clarion Area High School. He retired in 1984 as Media Specialist for Clarion Area Schools.
Paul was a veteran of World War II and was honorably discharged in 1943. He was a fifty year member of Canby Lodge 520 F&A Masons and a lifetime member of the Pennsylvania Association of Retired Teachers.
It was while attending college in Clarion that Paul met his future wife, the former Marion Elaine McCall. Paul and Elaine graduated from college on May 22, 1943 and were married the following weekend at her family’s home in Sligo, PA. They celebrated 68 years of marriage before Elaine’s passing in 2011. During their lifetime together, Paul and Elaine traveled extensively throughout the United States. They especially enjoyed family visits with their children and grandchildren in Massachusetts and North Carolina.
Paul and Elaine enjoyed entertaining at their home and had many happy memories of their times spent together with family and friends. Paul enjoyed golfing, home maintenance, and woodworking, having made each of his children a grandfather clock.
An important part of Paul’s life was the time he spent as a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarion, of which he was a member for over fifty years. During these years, he served as Sunday School Superintendent, was a member of the Board of Trustees, served as a Deacon and as an Elder. He also served on various church committees during that time.
Survivors include three children and their spouses, son John Paul Kapp, Jr. and wife, Dorine, of Ashland, MA, and daughters Mary Joyce Anderton and husband, Dave, of Oil City with whom he made his home since 2011, and Kristin Elaine Middleton and husband, Jim, of Charlotte, NC.
Additionally, Paul is survived by five grandchildren, Jeffrey Kapp (Abby) of Lake Oswego; OR; Kelly Kapp of Boston, MA; Eric Anderton (Jocelyn) of State College; Dr. Abby Anderton of New York City; and Curtis Middleton (Jenna) of Charlotte, NC; four great-grandchildren, Beckett and Briella Kapp, and Kenna and Corinne Anderton, one sister Joyce Lehman and husband Howard of Oil City, one brother Charles Kapp and wife Virginia of Clarion, and sisters-in-law, Delores Kapp of Cheswick and Margie McCall of Callensburg.
Preceding Paul in death, in addition to his wife and parents, were three brothers, Harold, Ralph, and Richard, and three sisters, Mary Catherine, Margaret, and Edna Mae.
The family will receive visitors at the Goble Funeral Home in Clarion on Wednesday, March 18th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at the First Presbyterian Church of Clarion on Thursday, March 19th at 11:00 a.m. Visitors will be received at the church beginning at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Permanent Memorial Fund of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarion.
Visit goblefh.com to send condolences online.
