James Maitland Chapman, 82, died Thursday, May 14 after a short illness.
He was born in Berkley to Earl and Blanche Chapman. He grew up in Oakdale, attending Oakdale schools, and graduated from Oakdale High in 1945.
Upon graduation he served in the Coast Guard from 1944-1945 serving on the USS Ogden and 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. Mr. Chapman 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 at 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 in Ceres at the John F. Kennedy Complex for Special Education (his true passion) for 10 years, and taught from Sacramento to the state of Washington.
He enjoyed sailing, scuba diving, vintage cars and his dogs. He loved the ocean and new adventures hoping to return to the state of Washington one day.
He is survived by his high school sweetheart and devoted wife of 60 years, Violet (Rasmussen) Chapman; three daughters, Linda Airola, Laura (John) Heney, and Jamie (Bob) Vickers; grandchildren, Damian Airola, Janee Walker, Jodi Halladay, and Jami DeLay; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The family thanks Dr. Ronak Shah, M.D., Modesto Satellite Dialysis and the Alexander Cohen Hospice House.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 30 at the John F. Kennedy Complex for Education, Stonum Road, Ceres.
Neptune Society of Northern California, Stockton Branch in charge of arrangements.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
May 27, 2009
He was born in Berkley to Earl and Blanche Chapman. He grew up in Oakdale, attending Oakdale schools, and graduated from Oakdale High in 1945.
Upon graduation he served in the Coast Guard from 1944-1945 serving on the USS Ogden and 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. Mr. Chapman 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 at 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 in Ceres at the John F. Kennedy Complex for Special Education (his true passion) for 10 years, and taught from Sacramento to the state of Washington.
He enjoyed sailing, scuba diving, vintage cars and his dogs. He loved the ocean and new adventures hoping to return to the state of Washington one day.
He is survived by his high school sweetheart and devoted wife of 60 years, Violet (Rasmussen) Chapman; three daughters, Linda Airola, Laura (John) Heney, and Jamie (Bob) Vickers; grandchildren, Damian Airola, Janee Walker, Jodi Halladay, and Jami DeLay; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The family thanks Dr. Ronak Shah, M.D., Modesto Satellite Dialysis and the Alexander Cohen Hospice House.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 30 at the John F. Kennedy Complex for Education, Stonum Road, Ceres.
Neptune Society of Northern California, Stockton Branch in charge of arrangements.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
May 27, 2009
