Obituary for Gerald Dennis "Jerry" Chapman
Gerald (Jerry) Dennis Chapman, 81, of Greenbank, WA, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 22th, 2021. Jerry was born on August 5, 1939 in Abilene, TX. He was the beloved son of the late Alfred and Pauline (Allen) Chapman.
Jerry dedicated two of his late-teenage years to service in the 5th Marines before his love of flying took root. He learned to fly in the Fort Worth area and was soon working for a crop-dusting outfit. He enjoyed his early flying career which took him all around Texas and Oklahoma.
In 1965 Jerry was hired by Delta Airlines where he initially took to the skies in the DC-6. During his tenure as a pilot he resided in Georgia, Texas and New Hampshire. He flew domestically and internationally in a variety of aircraft such as the DC-7, DC9, L100, B757 and B767. In 1997, after 32 years of service, Jerry retired as a captain of the L10-11.
Jerry’s love of family, flying, adventure and travel continued throughout his retirement. He could be seen flying his twin Navion in the New Smyrna Beach, FL area and in later years his RV4 near Granby, CO.
Jerry is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Ruth Moeller Chapman, his son Eric, and daughter Heidi (Chapman) Goodwin. He has five wonderful (and sometimes mischievous) grandchildren: Maverick, William, Sebastian, Malia and Liam.
A service will be held for Jerry on Tuesday, March 30th at Trinity Lutheran Church 18341 WA-525 Freeland, WA. Friends and family are welcome to attend at 1:00 pm.
Jerry dedicated two of his late-teenage years to service in the 5th Marines before his love of flying took root. He learned to fly in the Fort Worth area and was soon working for a crop-dusting outfit. He enjoyed his early flying career which took him all around Texas and Oklahoma.
In 1965 Jerry was hired by Delta Airlines where he initially took to the skies in the DC-6. During his tenure as a pilot he resided in Georgia, Texas and New Hampshire. He flew domestically and internationally in a variety of aircraft such as the DC-7, DC9, L100, B757 and B767. In 1997, after 32 years of service, Jerry retired as a captain of the L10-11.
Jerry’s love of family, flying, adventure and travel continued throughout his retirement. He could be seen flying his twin Navion in the New Smyrna Beach, FL area and in later years his RV4 near Granby, CO.
Jerry is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Ruth Moeller Chapman, his son Eric, and daughter Heidi (Chapman) Goodwin. He has five wonderful (and sometimes mischievous) grandchildren: Maverick, William, Sebastian, Malia and Liam.
A service will be held for Jerry on Tuesday, March 30th at Trinity Lutheran Church 18341 WA-525 Freeland, WA. Friends and family are welcome to attend at 1:00 pm.