Rachel Earp Obituary

Earp, Rachel Winslow Hill April 23, 1931 – September 23, 2006. Rachel died peacefully at her home in Indialantic, Florida, on Saturday, September 23, 2006 surrounded by friends and family. Rachel was born on April 23, 1931, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Hibbert Mosse Hill and Rachel Hanna Hill. Like her sisters and both her parents, she graduated from the University of Minnesota. The Hill family has a long tradition at the "U" where her grandfather, Dr. Hibbert Winslow Hill, was a professor in the school of Public Health and her father taught in the College of Engineering. Rachel and her four sons moved to Indialantic, Florida from Connecticut in June, 1969. She became a teacher with Brevard County Schools and went on to achieve two Master's Degrees from Nova University. She taught first grade at Ocean Breeze Elementary in Indian Harbour Beach and finished her almost 30-year career at Harbor City Elementary in Melbourne. During her retirement, she spent time with friends, regularly attended water exercise class at Our Club, volunteered with the Women's Center, belonged to the League of Women Voters and the Adult Literacy Program and was active in the Great Books Club. She was an avid reader; loved words and ideas. She traveled to China and Europe several times and visited Minnesota and Washington, D.C. frequently. She is survived by her four sons: James Earp and wife, Cindy, of Indian Harbour Beach; Samuel Earp and wife, Gordana, of McLean, Virginia, Daniel Earp, of Indialantic and David and wife, Rolande, of St. Petersburg, Florida. She has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is survived by her beloved sisters, Susan Hill Gross and husband, Bert, of Minneapolis and Mary Hill Rojas, of Washington, D.C. She was the center of family communication for many nieces, nephews and a variety of extended family, and her many emails, notes and calls will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 21, 10 AM at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Health First Hospice, 1900 Dairy Road, West Melbourne, Florida 32904.
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.