Geraldine G. Wappl
May 10, 1920 - April 4, 2005
Obituary
Geraldine G. WAPPL
Born Grace Geraldine Hoddinott May 10, 1920 in Seattle to William & Ethel; passed away peacefully April 4, 2005, surrounded by her family. Gerry graduated from Highline H. S. in 1938 and lived her entire life in Burien. She retired from Pac. NW Bell after 37 years of service. She was a member also served as presiding officer of Burien Court Amaranth, Southgate Chapter OES, Madonna Shrine, & Ahmes Court of LOSNA, and was a 55-year member of Glendale Lutheran Church. She was a Rainbow girl as a youth and later worked more than 40 years as an adult volunteer, serving as Mother Advisor of Southgate Assembly, Grand Deputy, and chairman of numerous state committees. She was preceded in death by husband John & son Roy, brother George & sister Maxine; survived by daughter Sharron Ratcliff Darryl & grandchildren Jennifer & David, & brother W.E. “Doc” Shaw, also many nieces & nephews. Service on Monday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m. at Bonney-Watson Parker Chapel, 900 SW 146th Street, Burien.
GERALDINE WAPPL
LIFE HISTORY
Grace Geraldine Hoddinott, daughter of William and Ethel Marie Osborn Hoddinott, was born in Seattle on May 10, 1920. Her three older siblings were brother, Witten Shaw now known as “Doc” from her mother’s first marriage, brother, George, and sister, Maxine. Geraldine was nicknamed “Jimmie” and sometimes, “Jimmie Tough” as a little girl. They lived in a tiny house with an outhouse on 153rd and Ambaum in Burien. Her father died when she was only 7 , and then, in 1931, the family’s house burned to the ground. The rest of the family escaped with only the nightclothes they were wearing, but Gerry had stayed the night with a friend, so she had a set of clothing and her doll, Becky with her, a fact that made her sister quite jealous. With much help from family and friends, a new house was built on an adjacent lot. With 2 stories, a full basement, and indoor plumbing, it seemed like a mansion. With 4 children and no husband, her mother applied for help from the WPA, and was given the task of starting the first Burien library. She solicited donations of books and space and started the library. Both girls helped part time after school. Gerry attended Lake Burien grade school through grade eight and then went to Highline High School, graduating in 1938. She then got her first paying job with the telephone company at their Glendale office. She started as a switchboard operator, then later moved to the long distance layout department and worked in downtown Seattle, retiring in 1975 after 37 years of service.
Gerry met her future husband, John Wappl, at a dance at the Spanish Castle. They were married in 1941, bought two lots from Gerry’s mother, and built their first house next door to her. Their children, Sherry and Roy, were babysat by Nana while Gerry continued to work.
While in high school, Gerry had joined Rainbow girls and had remained active until she was 20. When at age 14, Sherry wanted to join, Gerry renewed her interest in the organization and became a member of the advisory board, and then, Mother Advisor for Southgate Assembly. Later she served as a Grand Deputy and as chairman of several state committees. Then again in the late 1980’s she took on the job of Mother Advisor again, and this time served while her granddaughter, Jennifer, was active.
Gerry also became interested in other Masonic organizations. She joined Eastern Star and participated as an officer. She served as Worthy Matron two times. She also became a charter member of Burien Court Amaranth and was an officer while her brother, “Doc” served as its first Royal Patron. Gerry later served as Royal Matron six different times and was a Grand Representative to Kansas, Connecticut, Alaska twice, and Georgia twice. She especially enjoyed these opportunities to travel to other states and make new friends there. She also loved making corsages and flower arrangements and doing decorations, and her jam-packed garage is evidence of the effort she put into this. For nearly 30 years, Gerry spent her holiday time doing gift-wrapping at Fred Meyer to help Amaranth earn money to fund their charity donations to diabetes research, youth scholarships, teddy-bear patrol and others. It was extremely difficult this past year for her to hand the chairmanship over to others. Ladies’ Oriental Shrine was the last Masonic organization Gerry joined, and it always gave her much pleasure to be working on projects that would help the sick children at Shriners’ Hospital to get well. She held the office of High Priestess, but also enjoyed being a member at various times of Warblers, Greeters, and Clowns. She especially loved traveling to the conventions, taking excursions, performing skits, and renewing friendships with ladies from all over the country.
Gerry was also a member of Glendale Lutheran Church, having joined with other family members in 1948. She sang in the choir for several years. Last summer she enjoyed attending several of the men’s softball team’s games.
Gerry took great pleasure in the activities of her grandchildren, Jennifer and David. She always attended their school concerts and went to quite a number of sports games and events. All three of them looked forward to their yearly “back-to-school” lunches out at Shakey’s. She was even brave enough to ride with them as they learned to drive.
Traveling was something else Gerry enjoyed. Most trips in the motorhome were confined to the West Coast, but after Johnny was diagnosed with ALS in 1981, they made a trip back to Saskatchewan to revisit his childhood home. They found relatives who were able to direct them to the place on the prairie where the farmhouse had been. In addition to her travels with her clubs, she also took a trip with her mother and a cousin to Scotland to visit with the sisters of her stepdad.
1985 was a difficult year, as she lost her mother in January, Johnny in July, and two in-laws in the fall. In 1986 she decided she didn’t like living alone, so she offered her house to Sherry and Darryl if they would buy her a house to place on the 2nd lot of her property. She enjoyed picking out all the parts of her new modular home and moved in during the summer of 1987. Her sister moved from Florida after losing her husband, as well. They enjoyed doing things together until Maxine’s hearing loss and dementia became too difficult to live with, so she was moved to an adult care facility. Son Roy had also lived on the property in the bus he had converted into a home. He was helpful while Johnny was ill, and then he did the landscape and built the deck around his mother’s house. After a motorcycle accident in 1993, he decided to move to Montana, where he had some property. In December of 1995 we learned that he had developed leukemia and passed away in Montana.
The other love of Gerry’s life were her cats. Over the years she was “mom” to Jupiter, Inky, Shawn, Skipper, Samantha, and Casey. Sherry’s cats, Melody, Purrky, Julie, and Shadow and dogs Sandy and Goldie, too got their fair share of her attention as well. You seldom saw Gerry without a cat on her clothing, jewelry, or tote bag.
Although Gerry lived what most would consider a long life, her family is very sad to see her pass and will miss her terribly. We know, however, that she is now reunited with loved ones, and that we will see them all again one day.
Gerri was one of my favorite PHP of Ahmes Court. She was the first HP, I worked with when I was elected treasurer.I always enjoyed visiting Burien Court and seeing Gerri in the East. May she rest in peace.
Each summer several girls from
the Class of 1938 would meet for lunch. It won’t be the same without Gerry, she will be missed by all. To her family may I extend my deepest sympathy.
my grandmothers maiden name was Wappl. so long ago, but i think john was my great uncle. not sure i am researching extended family members.