Rev. Vernon Tapp

Rev. Vernon H. Tapp, 94, of Itasca went to be with his Lord on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at Hill Regional Hospital in Hillsboro. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, March 29, 2013, at the Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro with the Rev. Sam Houston officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Burial Park in Waxahachie. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 PM Thursday, March 28, at the funeral home.

Vernon was born on February 20, 1919 near Howard, Texas. He was the son of William Harper and Maggie Luvenia (Kennedy) Tapp.

Licensed to preach the gospel on July 16, 1939, Vernon was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry on a Wednesday night, September 18, 1940, by the First Baptist Church of Italy. Bro. W. H. Day led the questioning, Bro. Lloyd Harper prayed the ordination prayer, Bro. A. L. Meador gave the charge to the church and the candidate, and F. P. Graham acted as clerk for the presbytery. It was stated to the church “ Bro. Tapp has been called to the care of the Sleigh Church for 1/4 time. We heartily recommend Bro. Tapp to all sister churches. He is a young man, but is full of zeal for the Lord and is anxious to be kept busy in His work.” Vernon’s father and youngest brother were deacons in the church at the time of his ordination. He preached his first sermon on the third Sunday in July of 1939.

On June 14, 1942, Vernon married Janet Combest in the Immanuel Baptist Church in Fabens just before he volunteered to serve in the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He served as a photographic laboratory technician and was stationed in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan.

Following the war, Vernon and Janet moved to Jacksonville where they both attended Jacksonville Baptist College. For more than 30 years, Vernon served as pastor of the Bellaire Baptist Church in Port Arthur and Janet served variously as pianist, organist, and song director through those years. In 1979, they moved to Itasca where Vernon filled the pulpit of First Baptist Church until his retirement.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet, on February 2, 2013; and also his parents, a son, William James “Bill” Tapp, four brothers, and three sisters. Survivors include one son, Gary Tapp and wife, Sue, of Itasca; five grandchildren, Brian Tapp and Clayton Tapp, both of Spring, Tina Tapp of Fort Worth, Amy Hazelden of Kodiak, AK, and Paulene Brown of Bridge City; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service

10:00 AM ,Friday, March 29, 2013
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX, Hill 76645

Visitation

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ,Thursday, March 28, 2013
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX, Hill 76645

Burial

Friday, March 29, 2013
Hillcrest Burial Park
Hillcrest Park Cemetery Waxahachie, TX, Ellis 75165
Notes: following the service