Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

WARREN - William Edward Chapman, 88, died peacefully in his sleep Monday, February 2, 2015, his loving wife was by his side. He was born on January 17, 1927 in Boston, Massachusetts.

William was predeceased by his father Leland Chapman; his mother and step-father, Flora Nichols Norwood and Howard Norwood; his brother Joseph Chapman; a step-brother Dell Norwood; two nephews and one grandchild. He is survived by his wife, Judith Chapman of Warren; two sisters, Arlene Haskell of Winslow, Irene Powers of South China; three children, Samantha Chapman Zdrojewski of Goose Creek, SC, Walter Edward Chapman of Warren, Shawn Lawrence Chapman of Thomaston, and their mother, Sheila Louise Chapman of Kittery Point. He is also survived by five step-children, Wendy VanDine, Harold Clarke, Jr., Steven Clarke, Jill Sullivan, Jackie Madore. William and Judy enjoyed a blended family, on his side he had eight grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren; on Judy’s side there are eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister-in-law; two brothers-in-law; numerous nieces and nephews as well as great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.

William graduated from Warren High School 1944. Following high school, William enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving his country proudly from 1944 until 1964 when he retired as a Chief Petty Officer. Some of his duty stations included U.S. Naval Hospitals in Annapolis, MD, New Port, RI, Portsmouth, VA, Portsmouth, NH; bases in New London, CN, New York, Bainbridge and Bethesda, MD, Brunswick, ME, Bermuda, Boston, MA, and Camp Lejeune, NC. William eventually retired from the US Naval Radio Station Cutler in East Machias. He served proudly aboard several submarines including USS Cutlass, USS Sea Owl, USS Skate, and USS Corsiar.

Following his retirement William was employed for six years with the Oxford Paper Company in Rumford before beginning his career with the Maine State Department of Corrections. He worked first for the department of Probation and Parole for three years and later for over 22 years as an officer at the Maine State Prison.

Always civic and fraternally minded, William remained active in several fraternal organizations including the Rockland Lodge of Elks, No 1008; Winslow Holbrook Merritt American Legion Post No. 1 in Rockland; the Mid Coast Shrine Club, the Kora Shrine Temple, Masonic Lodges in both Warren, and Kittery, Warren Odd Fellows and he was a life member of the Fleet Reserve Association.

William enjoyed poker nights with his friends as well as monthly breakfasts with other retired prison guards. He took great pleasure in being in the outdoors, taking hunting trips to Dixfield and outings to the Allagash with his dogs. He always had a vegetable garden and loved sharing the fruits of his labors with family, friends and neighbors.

He was very proud of his military career and enjoyed sharing his stories and experiences with others, often attending military reunions. Until recently when his health no longer allowed it, William and Judy enjoyed winters in Florida.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

A burial with Military Honors will be held this spring on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., at Pleasantville Cemetery, Rt. 131, Warren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either, Honor Flight of New England, P.O. Box 16287, Hooksett, NH, 03106; or Wounded Heroes Program of Maine, P.O. Box 1797, Saco, Maine 04072.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

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