Charley Chapman

Charley L. (Chuck) Chapman, 88, of Yakima passed away on July 13, 2017 at Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital. Chuck was born in Yakima, Washington, October 20, 1928 to Margaret (Bessie) and Charley Osgood Chapman. He was educated in the Yakima Public Schools until 1942 when his family bought a ranch and moved to Zillah. His father passed away in January of 1945 so he quit school to run the ranch. During the winter of 1945/46 he attended Perry Trade School to become a Body and Fender Mechanic. In early 1946 he and his half-brother went into business together as the Gold Dust Twins repairing automobiles in Buena, Washington. His military career began in July of 1946 when he enlisted in the Navy. He was released from active service to active reserve duty in early 1948 and married Phyllis Uthmann, his high school sweetheart. He became a journeyman sheet metal worker and worked in Ellensburg, Yakima and Toppenish. He was called back to active duty during the Korean War, serving with Mobile Construction Battalion Number 2 (MCB-2) based at Cubi Point in the Philippines. In early 1954 he converted from a Reservist to Regular Navy and received his first shore duty in Coronado, California. Chuck’s military career took him from a Seaman Apprentice through the rates ending as a Chief Steel Worker and then in to the officers ranks of Warrant Officer, Ensign, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Lieutenant and finally Lieutenant Commander. His duties as an officer took him to Davisville, Rhode Island; Patuxent River, Maryland; Adak, Alaska; Vietnam; and Whidbey Island, Washington. He organized and served as the first President of the Whidbey Island Naval Flying Club. He also submitted the winning name (Crosswind) for the base newspaper which had been The Propwash. Retiring in July of 1971 as a Lieutenant Commander, he returned to Yakima and continued his education at Central Washington State College in Ellensburg. He graduated in the spring of 1974 with a dual major in Education in Industrial Technology and Aerospace. His post-graduate work was in educational research. During his first teaching assignment in Easton, Washington, he organized the teachers and established the Easton Education Association. Teaching was not the exciting challenge he wanted so he moved into the aerospace field joining the Civil Air Patrol, where he became Commanding Officer of the Yakima Composite Squadron, organized the 782 Flying Club and became a Flight Instructor. Not totally satisfied with this minimum work load, he went back into the sheet metal trade working in Kennewick and on the Hanford Project. Again, not fully tasked, he became an instructor for Apprentice Sheet Metal Workers at Columbia Basin College. When hard times hit Hanford, he returned to Yakima where he was employed by the Yakima School District as an instructor and as the Public Relations Director at the Skills Center. While there, he organized and unionized the Para-professionals of the Yakima School District, becoming their first President. Retirement from the civilian job market in 1990 left Chuck without much to do except his two big recreations of playing clarinet and saxophone with the Yakima Community Band and flying. He bought a cabin in Cliffdell to keep himself busy remodeling as he sat back and relaxed in the great outdoors. It was not until August of 1991 that Most Excellent Companion Chapman began his Masonic life. After proving-up in November of 1991, he joined the Yakima York and Scottish Rites and Masada Shrine. Between then and 2001 he traveled to the East in his Blue Lodge (Compass Lodge No. 306), all three Yakima York Rite Bodies and became Potentate of Masada Shrine. Ask him and he will tell you that after all these wonderful Masonic experiences none were more gratifying than his year (2006/07) as Grand High Priest. He worked his way East in the Red Cross of Constantine, Allied Masonic Degree, York Rite College and Past Commander’s Association. He was a charter member of the Washington Masonic Alliance and attended their meetings regularly until his death. Chuck is survived by his 4 sons: Larry G., Bruce L., Kenneth W., and Charley P. Chapman and daughter Susan D. Anderson; 11 grandchildren; and several great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis in 2001 and his second wife Marie in 2007; parents Charley O. and Bessie; step-father Edward; sister Jane; and several step and half-brothers. Services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday July 20, 2017 at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Zillah, WA. followed by a military graveside ceremony at the Zillah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to Shriners Hospital for Children Spokane Unit (www.shrinershospitals.org/Donate). To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charley Chapman, please visit our flower store.