Obituary of Katharine Dinkins Rappe

Katharine Dinkins Rappe, died Tuesday, June 10. 2025, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. Born April 14, 1928, in Sumter County, she was the daughter of the late Frances Mellette Dinkins and Vernon Robert Dinkins. Mrs. Rappe was a graduate of Edmunds High School and Winthrop College. She retired from Shaw Air Force Base Civil Service and she was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Sumter. Surviving are a daughter, Katharine “Kappy” Rappe Hurst of Sumter; a son, M. Roddey Rappe, III of Little Rock, South Carolina; a granddaughter, Eva Rappe Tyrell (Cole) and two great-granddaughters, Miller Katharine and Frankie Mae Tyrell of Lombard, IL; nephews, Arthur Whitford James, Jr. (Elizabeth) of Clemson, SC, Robert Hastings James (Frances), and William Hamilton (Cynthia) of Sumter, SC and a number of cousins. The family would like to thank her caregiver, Anita Hearon, for her loving care for the past several years. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Francis Mellette Dinkins and Vernon Robert Dinkins, Jr; a sister, Mary Esther Dinkins James and a brother-in-law, Arthur Whitford James, Sr. Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. Thursday in the Chapel of the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with Rev. Paul Frey officiating. Burial will be in the Sumter Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 226 W. Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to a charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.