Hope K. Rawls, teacher and sportswoman

Posted 12/11/12

Hope Knowles Rawls, 93, formerly of Chestnut Hill, a teacher and a national squash champion, died Dec. 2, at the home of her son John T. Rawls in Virginia Beach, Va.

Mrs. Rawls was a member of …

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Hope K. Rawls, teacher and sportswoman

Posted

Hope Knowles Rawls, 93, formerly of Chestnut Hill, a teacher and a national squash champion, died Dec. 2, at the home of her son John T. Rawls in Virginia Beach, Va.

Mrs. Rawls was a member of the doubles team that won the National Squash Doubles Championship in 1941 and 1950. She also was a runner-up in the Girls 18 National Tennis Championships in 1937.

After raising a family of seven children in Chestnut Hill, Mrs. Rawls became a physical education teacher at the Lower School of what was then Springside School.

She served as referee at the U.S. Girls Tennis Nationals and was treasurer of the Philadelphia Garden Club.

Born in New Bedford, Mass., she was raised in Southborough, Mass., and Long Island, N.Y.

Mrs. Rawls' husband of 60 years, the late William S. Rawls, was president of the Chestnut Hill Community Association from 1962 to 1965.

In addition to her son John, she is survived by sons Thomas H., of Bristol, Vt., and Stephen A., of Philadelphia; daughters Hope, of Philadelphia, and May, of Stratford, Conn.; eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Two sons, W. Lee Rawls and Henry P. Rawls, preceded her in death.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave. in Chestnut Hill. – WF

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