Alvin Thomas Chapman, Sr

Alvin Thomas Chapman, formerly of Flintstone, GA, aged 81, passed peacefully at The Rosewood Retirement Community on Thursday, March 17, 2016 in Fort Oglethorpe, GA. Al, as he was most commonly referred, was born on October 7, 1934 in Chickamauga, GA to his parents, Thomas Chapman and Verna Mae (Yoder) and was a resident of North West GA his entire life. He grew up in High Point and graduated from Chattanooga Valley High School in 1953 where he sang in the chorus and played football, basketball and ran track and was voted most athletic by his classmates. He attended West Georgia College in business and played tackle on the football team before being drafted into the US Army in 1957. He served honorably driving a Patton Tank as a Corporal in Company C, 2nd Medium Tank Battalion, 67th Armor, 4th Armored Division. He was stationed in Germany and discharged in 1959. He married the love of his life, Annie Ruth Yeomans in 1960 in Atlanta, GA and they settled in Flintstone, GA where they raised two sons. Al worked as a loan officer and assistant Vice President at Rossville/Southeast Federal Savings and Loan and later at Provident Insurance Company in Chattanooga until he retired in 1996. In his retirement years, Al enjoyed the fellowship found at family, church, and army reunions. He loved playing golf, ATV four-wheeling in the mountain trails of Utah and West Virginia, and participating in local holiday parades as a veteran. He also enjoyed painting, craft-making, and spending time with his grandchildren. Al and Annie Ruth happily took opportunities to travel and see new places across the US by themselves, with family members, or with church senior tours. Al attended Flintstone Baptist Church where he sang in the church choir until his later years when he and Annie Ruth instead attended Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church with his brother’s family. They attended church steadfastly until their declining health limited their mobility. Al and Annie Ruth remained together until her health necessitated her residence in a nursing home facility. Even after Annie Ruth was admitted to a rest home, Al continued to visit frequently until it became increasingly difficult to make the trips due to his own declining health. Al Chapman is survived by his wife Annie Ruth; his son Al Jr. and daughter-in-law Melinda of Wake Forest, NC; his son Greg, and daughter-in-law Teresa of Haymarket, VA; his brother and sister-in-law, David and Marlene Chapman; four grandchildren Kyle, Kelsey, Erin, and Clark and several brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. Mr. Chapman will be buried in a private ceremony on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, at Chattanooga National Cemetery. A memorial service will take place on that same day at 1PM at W. L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Home in Ft. Oglethorpe, GA. Viewing and visitation are scheduled for Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 2PM to 6PM at W.L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Home in Ft. Oglethorpe, GA. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Mr. Chapman’s life.

Alvin Thomas Chapman, Sr

October 7, 1934 - March 17, 2016