Carl E. Chapman, age 89, of Mount Gilead died unexpectedly Monday morning, March 21, 2011 at his home; the day after a wonderful time spent with family for “Thanksgiving in March”.
He was born on February 10, 1922 in Essex, Ohio the son of the late Blanchard L. and Martha J. (Chaney) Chapman.
Carl has been a member of the community most of his life and was a graduate Chesterville High School in the class of 1941.
Shortly after graduation on April 12, 1942 he married Esther D. Linn in the tenant house on the family farm. In fact the barn that the house was affiliated with is the big red barn that has since been razed and reassembled at the Flying Horse Farms. Esther recalled the amount of mud they had to walk through to get up the lane.
While Carl worked for a short time at the gravel pits in Fredericktown, dairy farming was all he knew. In fact, the 80-100 heads of Holstein cattle were a family affair. Esther would milk right beside Carl and Dennis, their son, would eventually become his right hand man.
He stayed active within the farming community as a member of the Farm Bureau and as a board member for the Milk Association. He was particularly fond of his role as a trustee on the Rural Electric Board. A position with perks; he and Esther went on trips to Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Florida just to name a few.
A man with a quiet faith, Carl was an active member of the Harmony Chapel United Methodist Church where he had served as a trustee. He and Esther also played an instrumental role in the remodeling of the church sanctuary. They did all the leg work, picking up various samples and bringing them back to be reviewed by the other church members. They even drove to Georgia for Carpet samples!
Carl loved his family and at dinners he sat at the head of their long table. This enabled him to look down at those that he cared for so much. His family is well aware of his love of desserts, even commenting after some pie and ice cream, “something didn’t come out right, I need more ice cream.”
He will be remembered as mild manor and soft spoken. In fact, the only time Carl swore was at the cows and usually he said “ya ole rip”.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Esther; their children Dennis of Mount Gilead and Patti Denman and her husband Dave of Mount Gilead; grandchildren Shelly Chapman of Atlanta, Georgia and Scott Chapman and his wife Dee also of Atlanta, Georgia, Rich Denman and his wife Brenda of Fredericktown, and Kendra Daniels and her husband Larry of Mount Gilead; step-grandchildren Kathy Gantz and her husband Jerry of Fredericktown, and Renee Frenbaugh of Fredericktown; great grandchildren Michael, Brooke, Bristan Dunn and her husband Adam, Payton, Brogin, Emily, Julie, Joshua, Cara, and T.J.; brothers Oris of Mount Gilead and Robert and his wife Betty also of Mount Gilead; sister-in-law Genevieve Chapman and brother-in-law Jim Dawson; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sister Ruthie Chapman; his brother Charles “Chuck” Chapman; his daughter in-law Esther Chapman; his sisters-in-law Lucille Dawson and Louise Chapman; and grandson Jeff Frenbaugh.
Friends may call on the family on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 from 4-7 PM at the Snyder Funeral Home, 76 South Main Street, Mount Gilead. Funeral services will be held there on Thursday at 11:00 AM with Pastor Jeannie Winters officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to Harmony United Methodist Church and envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
For those wishing to express their condolences to Carl’s family, you may do so by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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