Dr. Ganeswara Rao Rapaka, Mbbs, Dtm&H

TO VIEW THE LIVESTREAM FUNERAL SERVICE OF DR. RAPAKA, ON AUGUST 12, 2022, AT 11:30 AM,

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

https://vimeo.com/740200812/67b40883b2

STOW - Dr. Ganeswara Rao Rapaka, MBBS, DTM&H, 74, died on August 10, 2022.

2 Timothy 4:7-8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me.

He was a missionary doctor born in Pedamallam, India. He was the only person who got a formal education from that tiny village island. Soon after he graduated from medical school, he decided to work for a missionary organization, The Leprosy Mission, INDIA. He then decided to dedicate his life to take care of the most unwanted and destitute. Through his entire career, he treated tens of thousands of leprosy patients and conducted thousands of reconstructive surgeries. He worked in extremely rural and tribal parts of India, educating and caring for leprosy patients. He helped build several lepper colonies with over two hundred houses and providing education to their families. On the top of that, he helped in getting them married and obtain jobs. He also helped with planting several churches in his native state in India.

He was very humble, caring, and a loving person. He was extremely hospitable and a very beloved person by the whole leprosy community. In April of 2020, he was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. While on active chemo for over two years, he realized the need to train young and upcoming physicians about leprosy. Therefore, he decided to work full time treating and mentoring. He was extremely structured, organized, and the most systematic person with great discipline. He motivated and positively impacted several people throughout his entire life. While he was very busy with his service, he also played a major role in the upbringing of his family, as well as extended family.

Preceded in death by his wife, Vazra Kumari and parents, Musalayya Rapaka and Mahalakshmi Rapaka, he is survived by his son, Vijay Rapaka (Mercy) and daughter, Vimala Rapaka (Sudhakar Jalli), and grandchildren, Sarah Jalli, Luke Rapaka, Abigail Rapaka, and Jonathan Jalli.

Pastor Dr. Selvaraj Muthiah will conduct service on Friday at 11:30 AM at Redmon Funeral Home, 3633 Darrow Road, Stow 44224. Burial will follow at Silver Springs Cemetery.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Should friends desire, donations may be made to https://www.leprosymission.in/donate