Wilbur Paul Tappmeyer

1922 - 2016

Wilbur Paul Tappmeyer left this earthly life to make his home in Heaven on May 16, 2016.
Wilbur was born May 19, 1922, to Paul and Stella Tappmeyer in Drake, Missouri. He attended public schools and graduated from high school in Owensville. He earned an A.A. degree from Southwest Baptist College, an A.B. from Southeast Missouri State College, a B.S. from Missouri School of Mines and a Ph.D from University of Missouri. His teaching career of 35 years was diverse and included teaching science at Owensville High School, teaching chemistry at Southwest Baptist College and University of Missouri-Columbia, serving as a National Science Foundation Faculty Fellow, and teaching chemistry at University of Missouri-Rolla before his retirement in 1985.
In 1947 he married Marion Bender of Hillsboro, Missouri, and together they raised five children.
Wilbur was an active member of Rolla First Baptist Church, where he served as deacon for many years; Rolla Rotary Club; Gideons and many other organizations, acting as president and board member for several of them. His life-long hobbies were fishing and gardening. Many times he would start his day at the closest trout park, catch his limit, and get back to town early enough to teach a full day of chemistry classes. Summer days often found him tending his garden. Even in his later years he planted, tended and harvested a corn crop in the raised garden beds at Presbyterian Manor where he lived.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Stella; by Marian, the love of his life for sixty-six years; and by two sisters, Wilma Poland and Esther Worsham. He is survived by his children Edith (Harold) Gragg, Ellen (Barry) Reynolds, Mark (Linda) Tappmeyer, Alice (Rodney) Bones, and Bruce (Mary) Tappmeyer, nine grandchildren and nineteen great- grandchildren.
A celebration of Wilbur's life will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. at Rolla First Baptist Church with visitation preceding it at 12:00 noon. Interment will follow in Ozark Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials be made to Presbyterian Manor or Phelps Regional Hospice.
Online condolences may be offered at www.nullandsonfuneralhome.com
All arrangements are under the direction of the Null & Son Funeral Home in Rolla.