Charles C. Chapman, a 20-year resident of The Villages, passed away February 14, 2014, after a short illness at age 92. Chapman was well-known in The Villages as one of the co-founders and former president of the inline skating club, originally called Rollerblade Whiz. He skated with the club until he was 87 and won a gold medal in the Orlando InLine Skating Marathon at age 79. Chapman was also a member of the Hearts and Pinochle clubs.
He was also a columnist for the Daily Sun. His Tales from a Third Rate Philosopher column appeared weekly for several years, and he wrote numerous travelogues for the paper. Chapman also published two books of poetry, A Life of Passion and Poems for Children of All Ages.
Chapman served in the U.S. Air Corps during World War II. He taught sixth grade in Lake Oswego, Ore. for fifteen years before coming to The Villages in 1994.
Chapman is survived by three daughters: Colleen Chapman of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Melanie Chapman of Nashville, Tenn., and Pamela Hilton (John) of Huntington, Ind.; four grandchildren, Paul Chapman and Matt Hilton of Huntington, Ind., Anna Maples of Indianapolis, Ind., and Catherine Wenschlag of Edmonton, Alberta, and one step-grandchild, Jenifer Wilson (Kent) of Skiatook, Okla. He also had two great-grandchildren, Kara Gwilt and Miranda Reed of Indianapolis, Ind. and a sister, B. J. Liner of Topeka, Kan.
A family graveside service will be held in Chehalis, Wash. at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Smile Train, www.smiletrain.org, P.O. Box 96231, Washington, D.C. 20090, Honor Flight at www.honorflight.org, or to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, Fla. 32778.
Leave a reply