William Chapman

William D. Chapman, 85, of Whitewater passed away Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Oct. 18, 1925, in Whitewater, to William Preston and Salome Idona Cook Chapman. He and Irene Phelps were married Sept. 20, 1946, in Somerset, Ky.

William was a 1944 graduate of Jackson High School. He immediately signed up for the U.S. Army, serving honorably, during World War II, from July 11, 1944, to Aug. 15, 1946.

William worked for the former International Shoe Factory in Cape Girardeau. He began working at the Chrysler plant in St. Louis in 1965. He briefly commuted from Whitewater, but then the family moved to De Soto, Mo. He retired from the Chrysler Corporation in 1985, and thereafter returned to Whitewater.

William enjoyed traveling and gardening, but his greatest pleasure was spending time with his family.

He was a 60-year member of Whitewater Methodist Church and Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Irene of Whitewater; two sons, Alan D. (LaDonna) Chapman of De Soto, Mo., Lonnie R. (Tina) Chapman of Whitewater; three daughters, Carolyn (Fred) Green of Scopus, Mo., Joanne (Randy) Lincoln of Whitewater, Phyllis (Mark) Snyder of Mechanicsville, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Ruth (the late William Jr.) Chapman of Barnhart, Mo.; 17 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are three sisters, Louise Woeltje of Jackson, Gladys Phelps of Overland, Mo., and Opal Gast of Whitewater; and a sister-in-law, Juanita Chapman of Jackson.

In addition to his son, William Jr. (2010), he was preceded in death by his parents; an infant great-grandson, Shane S. Chapman; one brother, Alfred Chapman; two sisters, Alta Green and Lucille Scholz; and a young sister, Ethel Chapman.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Don Kuehle officiating. Interment will follow at Zion Methodist Cemetery in Gordonville.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Whitewater United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.