OBITUARIES 1995-09-25

James A. Sapp, Affiliated Founder

es have been held at the First Baptist Church, Fort Myers, Fla., for James A. Sapp, a founder of Affiliated of Florida here. Sapp died Sept. 2 after a long illness. He was 81.

Sapp's family opened J.C. Sapp & Sons grocery store in the Fort Myers area in 1928. In 1951, Sapp and his brother Clifton expanded the business and named it Tice Super Market.

In 1947, they established the Florida Retail Owned Grocers Industry, which later changed its name to Affiliated of Florida. Sapp was director of the cooperative from the time of its formation until earlier this year.

He was also instrumental in forming the Florida Grocers' Association, which later changed its name to Florida Food Industries, in Tallahassee, Fla.

He is survived by his wife, Sara, three daughters and one son.

Orville Redenbacher, Popcorn Developer

CORONADO, Calif. -- Orville Redenbacher, developer of the modern variety of popcorn, was found dead at his home here Sept. 19. He apparently drowned in his whirlpool after a heart attack. He was 88.

Although known as a national spokesman for his self-named popcorn, Redenbacher was actually a Purdue University-educated agricultural scientist. With his partner Charlie Bowman, he developed "snowflake" popcorn that expanded as much as 40 times its original size.

Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn was introduced by the Chicago-based department store Marshall Field's in 1970. In 1976, Redenbacher and Bowman sold the brand to Hunt-Wesson, now a subsidiary of ConAgra, Omaha, Neb. He became a spokesman for the brand.

Redenbacher is survived by two daughters, 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.