Rafael Arvid Appelo”Rafael Arvid Appelo, age 64, died of a heart attack around noon Friday, December 20th, while working with a telephone crew near Knappton. He was born in Sideby, Finland, on July 1, 1899, and served with distinction in the White army during the Finnish War of Independence in 1917.

“He emigrated to the United States in 1921 where he worked in the mercantile business with his brother, C. Arthur Appelo in Deep River, [Washington]. Later he worked in lumber mills in Raymond and Everett. He was one of the early employees of Western Wahkiakum County Telephone Co. in 1928 and helped build many of the lines of the system.

“In 1934 he became store manager of Appelo’s General Merchandise in Grays River. He worked there until the love of the outdoors called him to work with the state forestry in Wahkiakum and Pacific counties. During his service as local warden and forest lookout during World War II, he learned the location of every known section corner in the Cathlamet district.

“He returned to work for the telephone company in 1950 and was instrumental in the recent conversion of the Grays River area to a common battery system which will cut over to dial late next year. He was chief lineman for the Grays River exchange.

“He is survived by one brother in the United States, C. Arthur Appelo of Deep River; two sisters, Hilma and Sigrid Appelo, and two brothers, Lennart and Emil Appelo, all of Finland. Funeral services were held Monday at 11 a.m. in Grays River Methodist church.”

-Dec. 27, 1963