A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 30 at the John F. Kennedy Complex for Education on Stonum Road in Ceres for James Maitland Chapman, 82, of Modesto. He died May 14, 2009 after a short illness.
Arrangements were handled by the Neptune Society of Northern California's Stockton Branch.
Born Jan. 23, 1927 in Berkeley to Earl and Blanche Chapman, Jim grew up in Oakdale, attending Oakdale schools, and graduated from Oakdale High in 1945. Upon graduation he served in the Coast Guard from 1944-45 serving on the USS Ogden. He then joined the Navy serving on mine sweepers the USS Ptarmigan, Admiral Mayo and the Admiral Everle in the Korean War. After World War II he graduated from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in 1947. He later started working at Food Machinery Corporation as a chemist. While working at FMC he attended Stanislaus State pursuing his teaching credential graduating in 1962. He went on to earn his administrative degree with emphasis in Special Education from Sacramento State. His passion for working with special needs children kept him in the educational field until his retirement in 2008. He worked in Calaveras County, was principal at the John F. Kennedy Complex for Special Education in Ceres for 10 years, and taught for Sacramento to the state of Washington. Mr. Chapman enjoyed sailing, scuba diving, vintage cars and dogs. He loved the ocean and new adventures hoping to return to the state of Washington one day.
He leaves behind his devoted wife of 60 years, Violet Rasmussen Chapman; three daughters, Linda Airola, Laura Heney and Jamie Vickers; his four grandchildren, Damian Airola, Janee Walker, Jodi Halladay, and Jami DeLay; and 12 great-grandchildren.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /May 27, 2009
Arrangements were handled by the Neptune Society of Northern California's Stockton Branch.
Born Jan. 23, 1927 in Berkeley to Earl and Blanche Chapman, Jim grew up in Oakdale, attending Oakdale schools, and graduated from Oakdale High in 1945. Upon graduation he served in the Coast Guard from 1944-45 serving on the USS Ogden. He then joined the Navy serving on mine sweepers the USS Ptarmigan, Admiral Mayo and the Admiral Everle in the Korean War. After World War II he graduated from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in 1947. He later started working at Food Machinery Corporation as a chemist. While working at FMC he attended Stanislaus State pursuing his teaching credential graduating in 1962. He went on to earn his administrative degree with emphasis in Special Education from Sacramento State. His passion for working with special needs children kept him in the educational field until his retirement in 2008. He worked in Calaveras County, was principal at the John F. Kennedy Complex for Special Education in Ceres for 10 years, and taught for Sacramento to the state of Washington. Mr. Chapman enjoyed sailing, scuba diving, vintage cars and dogs. He loved the ocean and new adventures hoping to return to the state of Washington one day.
He leaves behind his devoted wife of 60 years, Violet Rasmussen Chapman; three daughters, Linda Airola, Laura Heney and Jamie Vickers; his four grandchildren, Damian Airola, Janee Walker, Jodi Halladay, and Jami DeLay; and 12 great-grandchildren.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /May 27, 2009
