Robert Chapman
February 14, 1934 — December 1, 2005
Robert Chapman
Dr. Robert M. "Bob" Chapman M.D., 71, of Waco, passed away Thursday, December 1, 2005, at his residence.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5 at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Stephen Ramsdell officiating. Burial will full military honors will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.
Visitation for family and friends will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque. A memorial video honoring his life will be shown during the visitation.
Dr. Robert M. "Bob" Chapman M.D. was born in Valley, Nebraska on February 14th, 1934. His father, William J. Chapman II, was a flight instructor in the Army Air Corps Reserve. His mother, Marie Byars Chapman, was a graduate of Eastman School of Music and taught piano, as well as being a church organist and choir director. In 1939 his father returned to active duty that meant many moves for his family. Bob attended fifteen schools from 1939 until 1944 when his family settled in San Antonio, Texas.
While attending school in the Alamo Heights School District he began his first job at age 12 delivering papers for the San Antonio Express-News. He worked as a paperboy until his senior year in high school. In high school, he was active in the band, choir, school newspaper, and theater.
In 1952 he entered college at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas where he met and married Mary Elizabeth Halve in 1954. He graduated in 1955, and entered Baylor University College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. His first daughter, Melissa Ann, was born in September of 1955.
Besides holding several part-time jobs, he was active in and President of Phi Beta Pi Fraternity.
In May of 1958 he joined the USAF and went on active duty during his senior year. He did his internship at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Denver where his second daughter, Nancy Elizabeth, was born. His third daughter, Mary Catherine, was born in Victorville, California while he was a Flight Surgeon at George AFB. In 1963 he attended the University of California where he received his Masters of Public Health, after which he finished his residency in Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio. In July 1965 he entered class 67A of the USAF pilot training at Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, Texas.
He was awarded the Orville Wright Achievement Award as the outstanding student pilot in all the Air Force 67A classes. After nine months of F-100 weapons and fighter tactics training at Luke AFB in Arizona, he was stationed at Lakenheath RAF base in England in April of 1967. In 1969 he was transferred to Alconbury RAF base, where he was Hospital Commander. While there he flew C-47, T-39, and RF-4 aircraft. His next assignment was to command the 366th USAF Hospital at Da Nang in the Republic of Vietnam. He had 100 air combat missions flying the F-4E, and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and numerous air medals.
In 1972 he returned to Randolph AFB, Texas where he was Chief of Aerospace Medicine. He moved to Wilford Hall USAF Hospital, Lackland AFB, and began a residency in Anesthesiology in 1974.
For two years after completing this residency, he served as an instructor and Chief of OR before retiring in November 1978. His last move was to Waco, Texas, where he practiced at both Providence and Hillcrest Hospitals. He retired from both in 1991, and for two years did occasional Locum Tenans for hospitals in Indiana, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. He is a member of the Military Order of Daedalians, Waco Chapter, and the Barbershop Harmony Society.
His quartet, the Clef Hangers, sang frequently in the Waco area. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Waco.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary H. Chapman; three daughters, Melissa Ann Chapman, Nancy Chapman Scheffler and husband Harold, and Mary Catherine Chapman Van Deusen and husband John; as well as four grandchildren, Greg Scheffler, Brian Scheffler, Rachel Xian Van Deusen, and Elizabeth QinXiao Van Deusen; two brothers, William J. Chapman III, and Richard C. Chapman and their wives. There are also many friends left behind, but he is sure to see most of them some day in Glory.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Hillcrest Hospice staff and all the physicians who cared for him during his two-year battle with lung cancer.
Memorials may be made to Hillcrest Hospice, Caritas or a charity of your choice.
You may send a message or share a memory with his family at www.oakcrestwaco.com
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5 at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Stephen Ramsdell officiating. Burial will full military honors will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.
Visitation for family and friends will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque. A memorial video honoring his life will be shown during the visitation.
Dr. Robert M. "Bob" Chapman M.D. was born in Valley, Nebraska on February 14th, 1934. His father, William J. Chapman II, was a flight instructor in the Army Air Corps Reserve. His mother, Marie Byars Chapman, was a graduate of Eastman School of Music and taught piano, as well as being a church organist and choir director. In 1939 his father returned to active duty that meant many moves for his family. Bob attended fifteen schools from 1939 until 1944 when his family settled in San Antonio, Texas.
While attending school in the Alamo Heights School District he began his first job at age 12 delivering papers for the San Antonio Express-News. He worked as a paperboy until his senior year in high school. In high school, he was active in the band, choir, school newspaper, and theater.
In 1952 he entered college at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas where he met and married Mary Elizabeth Halve in 1954. He graduated in 1955, and entered Baylor University College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. His first daughter, Melissa Ann, was born in September of 1955.
Besides holding several part-time jobs, he was active in and President of Phi Beta Pi Fraternity.
In May of 1958 he joined the USAF and went on active duty during his senior year. He did his internship at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Denver where his second daughter, Nancy Elizabeth, was born. His third daughter, Mary Catherine, was born in Victorville, California while he was a Flight Surgeon at George AFB. In 1963 he attended the University of California where he received his Masters of Public Health, after which he finished his residency in Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio. In July 1965 he entered class 67A of the USAF pilot training at Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, Texas.
He was awarded the Orville Wright Achievement Award as the outstanding student pilot in all the Air Force 67A classes. After nine months of F-100 weapons and fighter tactics training at Luke AFB in Arizona, he was stationed at Lakenheath RAF base in England in April of 1967. In 1969 he was transferred to Alconbury RAF base, where he was Hospital Commander. While there he flew C-47, T-39, and RF-4 aircraft. His next assignment was to command the 366th USAF Hospital at Da Nang in the Republic of Vietnam. He had 100 air combat missions flying the F-4E, and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and numerous air medals.
In 1972 he returned to Randolph AFB, Texas where he was Chief of Aerospace Medicine. He moved to Wilford Hall USAF Hospital, Lackland AFB, and began a residency in Anesthesiology in 1974.
For two years after completing this residency, he served as an instructor and Chief of OR before retiring in November 1978. His last move was to Waco, Texas, where he practiced at both Providence and Hillcrest Hospitals. He retired from both in 1991, and for two years did occasional Locum Tenans for hospitals in Indiana, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. He is a member of the Military Order of Daedalians, Waco Chapter, and the Barbershop Harmony Society.
His quartet, the Clef Hangers, sang frequently in the Waco area. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Waco.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary H. Chapman; three daughters, Melissa Ann Chapman, Nancy Chapman Scheffler and husband Harold, and Mary Catherine Chapman Van Deusen and husband John; as well as four grandchildren, Greg Scheffler, Brian Scheffler, Rachel Xian Van Deusen, and Elizabeth QinXiao Van Deusen; two brothers, William J. Chapman III, and Richard C. Chapman and their wives. There are also many friends left behind, but he is sure to see most of them some day in Glory.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Hillcrest Hospice staff and all the physicians who cared for him during his two-year battle with lung cancer.
Memorials may be made to Hillcrest Hospice, Caritas or a charity of your choice.
You may send a message or share a memory with his family at www.oakcrestwaco.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Chapman, please visit our flower store.
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