Earl R. Chapman

Obituary:

Earl R. Chapman, 83, of Creston, died Friday January 12, 2018 at LifeCare Hospice in Wooster after a nearly four year battle with prostate cancer.

Earl was born in Akron on Mother's Day May 14th, 1934. He was the second son to the Reverend Lawrence and Elsie (Brumbaugh) Chapman. He graduated from Ostrander High School (Delaware County, Ohio) in 1952. A respectful patriot, he joined the Ohio National Guard (1952-1960) following high school. During his time in the National Guard he was a Mess Steward. He had the rank of Sergeant 1st Class. After living and working in Columbus for several years he married Anne (Chaffin) Chapman on June 27th, 1959 at Creston United Methodist Church, she survives. He was a member of Grace Church in Wooster.

Earl was a 40 year employee of Westfield Group and retired in 1997 as a Project Manager in their Information Systems Department. During his tenure there he often created birthday cards for his coworkers. Upon retirement this act of kindness continued through his signature "Earlmark" greeting cards, individualized to touch each person through poem and pictures generated from his home computer. This tradition spanned more than 20 years.

An unwavering Christian, Earl was the head of a family that is solid. He loved and cherished his wife, three daughters, eleven grandchildren, and was an active member in the community. Earl enjoyed family gatherings, singing, playing the piano by ear, and was also a talented painter. He was an avid sports fan, fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed camping, boating and water-skied into his seventies.

In addition to his wife Anne, he is survived by his daughters, Tracy (Bill) Detling of Montville, (Geauga County), Christine (Winston III) Wyckoff of Burbank and Connie (Mark) Schmidt of Creston. His grandchildren Joshua (Cayte Ternes) Detling of Mentor, Paul Detling of Sarasota FL, Joseph, Linnea and Elizabeth Detling of Montville; Winston IV (Karlee Troyer) Wyckoff of Creston, Olivia (Wyckoff) Colton Hale of Burbank and Wyatt Wyckoff of Burbank; Rachel, Sarah and Garrett Schmidt of Creston. Two brothers, Don Chapman of Hendersonville, NC and Ted (Patty) Chapman of Murfreesboro, TN, and local brother in Christ, John Elliott of Wooster. Also surviving are two aunts and an uncle and many cousins including Vernon (Marlene) Brumbaugh of Medina.

He was proceeded in death by his parents and sisters in-law, Angela and Jeanine Chapman.

Services will be held at 11 o'clock on January 16th, at Grace Church, 4599 Burbank Road Wooster Ohio, with Pastor Robert Fetterhoff officiating. Private burial will take place after the service at Creston Maple Mound Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday evening, January 15th from 4-7 p.m. at Murray Funeral Home, 173 S. Main St., Creston. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to The Salvation Army (Coats for Kids) or Grace Church's Celebration Choir.