April 11, 2004

Richard Groves

Richard L. Groves of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Chattanooga died Sunday, March 7.

Mr. Groves, a native of LaFayette, Ga., was a certified public accountant employed at Henderson, Hutcherson, and McCullough in Chattanooga. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 610 and Father Ryan Fourth-Degree Assembly 1084 in Chattanooga. Mr. Groves also was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in World War II.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine Maxwell Groves; two sons; and two grandchildren.

The funeral Mass was held Wednesday, March 10, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church with Father George Schmidt, Father Bertin Glennon, ST, and Father Herbert Prescott officiating. Burial was in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Chattanooga.

Memorials may be made to Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 214 E. Eighth St., Chattanooga, TN 37402.

Helen Burch

Helen Rita Burch, 80, of Oak Ridge, died Monday, March 22, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

Mrs. Burch was born May 11, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pa. She was a member of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge, where she was active in the St. Therese of the Little Flower Guild. She was also involved in the Let’s Dance Club and the Oak Ridge Art Center. She was a member of the Ladies of the Elks.

She retired from the Department of Energy, where she was a secretary. Mrs. Burch was a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Joseph B. Burch; two sons; six grandchildren; and one brother and sister.

The funeral was held Friday, March 26, at St. Mary Church with Father Michael Woods officiating.

Memorials may be made to the St. Mary Building Fund, 327 Vermont Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

Gloria Davis

Gloria Quinn Davis, 79, of Signal Mountain died Tuesday morning, March 2, following an extended illness.

Mrs. Davis was born and raised in Chicago but lived most of her life in Chattanooga. She was a longtime member of St. Augustine Parish in Signal Mountain, a 40-year member of the Alexian Auxiliary, an accomplished homemaker, and an avid golfer.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Edward F. Davis; daughters Susan and husband Bill Parker of Signal Mountain, Martha and husband Stuart Carty of Boise, Idaho, Karen and husband Nick Decosimo of Signal Mountain, and Lisa and husband Scott Brown of Atlanta; sons Michael and wife Pat Davis of Hawaii and Matthew and wife Julie Davis of Signal Mountain; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one sister.

A memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Augustine Church on Friday, March 5, with Father Herbert Prescott, Father Paul Valleroy, and Father Bede Aboh officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Alexian Employees Scholarship Fund, 100 James Blvd., Signal Mountain, TN 37377.

Condolences may be sent via www.heritagefh.com.

Bernard Ryan

Bernard Martin Ryan, 89, of Vero Beach, Fla., died Tuesday, March 16, at his residence after a brief illness. He was the father of Paulist Father Terry Ryan, formerly pastor of John XXIII Parish in Knoxville.

Mr. Ryan was born Sept. 24, 1914, in New York City and moved to Vero Beach in 1988 from White Plains, N.Y. He was an active member of St. John of the Cross Parish in Vero Beach and a former president of the Vero Palms Estates Home Owners Association. He worked as a graphic artist and in advertising before his retirement. He was vice president of Doyle Dane Bernbach in New York and taught advertising at New York University. He was a member of the Hibernian Society and a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus in New York.

Also surviving him are three daughters, Maureen Ryan of Durham, N.C.; Jane Ryan of Marina Del Rey, Calif.; and Elizabeth Zappolo of Lake Worth, Fla.; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Mary Ryan.

A funeral Mass was held Friday, March 19, at St. John of the Cross Church.

Memorials may be made to VNA Hospice of Indian River County, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

Condolences may be sent to Father Terry Ryan, CSP, 1405 82nd Ave., No. 67, Vero Beach, FL 32966.

Cecille Rapaich

M. Cecille (Fitch) Rapaich, 81, a former resident of Chattanooga, died Monday, Feb. 16, at her home in Iron Mountain, Mich.

She was born Feb. 1, 1923, in Waterbury, Conn. Her family moved to Chattanooga when she was 5, and she graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1940. She married Dan Rapaich on March 31, 1949, in Chattanooga, and they moved to Iron Mountain in 1951. Her husband died in 1988.

Mrs. Rapaich was a secretary for Iron Mountain High School for more than 20 years, retiring in 1993. She was a member of St. Mary and St. Joseph parishes and the Hospital League. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, sewing, and knitting and was an avid Green Bay Packer fan.

She is survived by one son, Mark Rapaich of Westfield, Iowa; four daughters, Diane Rapaich of Royal Oak, Mich., Amy and husband Bruce Moser of Madison, Wis., Dr. Ellen and husband Jeff VanLaanen of Iron Mountain, and Lisa and husband James Carollo of Iron Mountain; two sisters, Elaine and husband Earl Barrows of Waxahachie, Texas, and Barbara Fitch of Chattanooga; and 12 grandchildren.

A memorial Mass was held Thursday, Feb. 19, at St. Mary Queen of Peace Church in Kingsford, Mich., with Father Daniel Zaloga officiating. Memorials may be made to the Dan and Cecille Rapaich Iron Mountain High School Scholarship Fund. Condolences may be expressed at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.