James Walter Rape, 83, of 5423 Canterbury Road, passed away Monday, March 28th, 2022, at the home of his eldest daughter, Lisa Bloom.

Born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Mr. Rape was preceded in death by his loving wife, Phyllis Elaine Hampton Rape, his mother, Pauline Rape, and his father, Theodore (Pete) Rape. He served as a Master Sargent in the United States Air National Guard for 23 years. After exiting the military, Mr. Rape worked at Drexel Fabrics as well as serving as a volunteer at the Number 3 Fire Department in Shelby, NC.

Mr. Rape is survived by one son, Tim Rape (Cyndi) of Blacksburg; two daughters, Lisa Bloom (Andre) of Blacksburg and Susanne Duncan (Mark) of Gaffney; two sisters, Shirley Wessinger of Chester and Trudy Scruggs of Kings Mountain; nine grandchildren, Haley Rape of Shelby, Samantha McCombs (Brian) of Taylors, Zach Rape (Brittiany) of Blacksburg, Justin Bloom (Kristen) of Cowpens, Heidi Bloom and Andrew Bloom of Blacksburg, Tyler Duncan (Brandi), Courtney Blakley, and Marissa Duncan of Gaffney; and six great-grandchildren, Kaden Huskey, Kasen Bloom, and Stella Kate Bloom of Cowpens, Kiaya Rape of Blacksburg, Jace Duncan and Ava Duncan of Gaffney; as well as several nieces and nephews; and a special cousin, Bonnie Orr, of Chester.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 30th, 2022, from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Eastside Baptist Church of Blacksburg, 1284 West Cherokee Street, Blacksburg, South Carolina 29702. Funeral services will immediately follow at 3:00 pm with Rev. Virgil Hampton officiating. Entombment will follow at Clingman Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Gladden Smoke III, Justin Bloom, Zach Rape, Andrew Bloom, Alex Hampton, and Kaden Huskey will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Military Veteran Project at www.militaryveteranproject.org or Kings Mountain Hospice House in memory of Mr. Rape's late wife, Phyllis, 321 Kings Mountain Boulevard, Kings Mountainn NC 28086.

The family will be at the residence of Lisa Bloom, 201 North Cherokee Ford Road Extension, Blacksburg, SC.

The Book of Memories is available at www.gordonmortuary.com.