Eva Lapp

Eva Lapp died peacefully in her sleep at Elizabeth House in Flat Rock on Friday, August 11, at the age of 96.

 Eva is survived by her son Eric Jan Lapp, daughters-in-law Mala Lapp and Sue Ann Lapp, son-in-law Keenan Davis, brother-in-law Royce Lapp, twelve grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews from Denmark to California.

 Eva was predeceased by her husband J Clement Lapp, her daughter Michele Lapp Davis, and her youngest son Gary Anders Lapp.

 Eva was born in Thisted, Denmark, on March 25, 1921, and completed her schooling in Denmark while becoming an avid biker and tennis player.  She began working for the United Nations Refugee Relief Program in Germany after World War II, where her ability to take shorthand in four languages was a valuable asset.  There she met and married Clem Lapp, who would be the love of her life until his death in 1993.

 In the early ’50s, the family moved to the Washington, D.C. area, where Clem worked for the federal government and Eva worked as a legal secretary while passing the test to become a U.S. citizen.  From 1965-67 the family moved to Malaysia, where Clem worked as an administrator with the Peace Corps.

 Eva and Clem retired to Escondido, California, in 1976 and subsequently moved to Medford, Oregon.

 Eva’s final destination was Ardenwoods Retirement Center in Arden, North Carolina, where she met many caring and wonderful friends, played a nifty game of bridge, enjoyed rides along the Blue Ridge Parkway and nights at the Asheville Symphony, and entertained friends and four generations of family members at her spiffy apartment and patio.  Friends there know very well that Eva never logged in to the computer age, but liked nothing more than curling up in bed with a good book and sharing it with family and friends afterward.  She never wanted to conquer anything so much as a difficult crossword puzzle in the morning newspaper.

 Eva will be remembered for her world view, toasts of “Skal” with wine glass in her hand, her willingness to form and give opinion on issues important to us all, her fine knitting, her beautiful smile, and most of all her love for her family and friends and her ongoing wish that all of us enjoy life, take care of each other and live our lives to the fullest.

 In lieu of a formal memorial service, Eva asked us to give each other a big hug and each remember her in our own special way.

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