Charlie Raper, 98, of the Hiwassee Dam Community, passed away Monday morning, August 23, 2021, at Cherokee Indian Hospital.
Mr. Raper was born February 28, 1923, to the late Martin Thomas Raper and the late Doral Kilpatrick Raper. He was a lifelong resident and member of Liberty Baptist Church.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the 835th Bombardment Squadron. He was the oldest living World War II veteran in Cherokee County. Charlie worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority for 15 years and was most known from Raper Variety Store, which he operated for 56 years.
In addition to his parents, Charlie was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Campbell Raper, and his second wife, Bernice Boring Raper; four sisters, Lois Holloway, Blanche Boring, Mary Lou Anderson and Willa Mae Wilson; and four brothers, Clem, Glen, Bill and Jack Raper.
Survivors include three children, Issac Thomas Raper and wife, Marilyn, Shelia Bradley and husband, Charles, and Charles Hoyt Raper and wife, Brenda; seven grandchildren, Lisa Bradley, Joshua Raper, Hannah Hardin, Sarah Shreve, Pamela Raper, Erica Dockery and Jessica Lawrence; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 28, 2021, at Liberty Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Dickey officiating. Music was provided by Marty Ansorge and Cynthia Lumme.
The interment will be in Mount Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the Murphy American Legion Post 96, Hayesville VFW Post 6812 and Hayesville American Legion Post 532, and masonic graveside rites conducted by the Montgomery Lodge No. 426. Pallbearers were Joshua Griggs, Jeremy Locke, Kevin Dockery, Garth Lawrence, Brenton Hardin and Jeremy Shreve. Honorary pallbearers were Glen Maples, Don Pickney, Roger Willis and Glen Holcomb.
The family received friends from 6 p.m. unitl 8 p.m. Friday, August 27, at the Ivie Funeral Home in Murphy, North Carolina, before the body was placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the services.
The family requested that anyone attending, wear a mask.
Those desiring to send flowers may do so, or in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mount Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, Attn: Tonya Wiggins, 580 Hiwassee Dam Access Road, Murphy, North Carolina, 28906.
Ivie Funeral Home of Murphy was in charge of all arrangements.
To send condolences to the family and sign an online guest register visit www.iviefuneralhome.com.