George Robert Chapman

George Robert Chapman, age 79, of Springfield, Mo., died Monday, July 9, 2007, at Cox Medical Center South, Springfield. George was born Jan. 28, 1928, in Avilla, Mo., the son of Clarence and Georgia (Meador) Chapman.

He attended Rusk rural school east of Avilla and graduated from Carthage High School in 1945. He served in the airborne unit of the Army during World War II. On Dec. 30, 1950, he married Patricia Marie Pascoe in Nevada, Mo. George began working for Southwestern Bell Telephone as a lineman in 1947. Before retiring in 1986, as a district manager for construction and engineering in the 417 area code, he held several positions in the company in Joplin, Farmington, St. Louis, Springfield and Kansas City. He was an active member of Southeast Rotary Club, Millwood Golf and Country Club, and Central Christian Church. He served for 15 years as a Laubach Literacy tutor trainer for the Springfield Literacy group, mostly at the U.S. Medical Center. He served on the Personnel and Planning and Zoning boards for the city of Springfield. George also did volunteer work for Southeast Rotary, RSVP, Meals on Wheels and Camp Bluebird and served as a Sunday school teacher and elder at six different churches over the state of Missouri. George loved photography, playing golf and traveling all over the world and to all of the states.

George is survived by his wife Pat; two daughters, Cathy and her husband Earl Lipscomb of Carthage, Mo., and Kay and her husband Rufus Church of Springfield; one son, and his wife John and Dorinda Chapman of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one brother, and his wife Charles and Linda Chapman of Warsaw, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Brian, David, and Tyler Lipscomb, Kennedy and his wife Susan, Jessica, and Patrick Church, Angelique and her husband Tim Zachary and Johnathan Chapman; and two great- grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Thursday, July 12, from 6-8 p.m., in the Walnut Lawn Funeral Home Chapel. Memorial services will be held Friday, July 13, at 11 a.m., in the Central Christian Church. Private burial will be in Missouri Veterans Cemetery Springfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any of the charities mentioned above or causes of the donor's choice.

An online memorial may be signed at www.walnutlawnfuneralhome.com.