Eldon Walter Chapman

Eldon Walter Chapman was the fourth and last surviving child of Augustus Chapman and Lottie Starr Chapman. Eldon came into this world on April 5, 1932 in Nowata, Oklahoma during the Great Depression and the devastating Dust Bowl.
When Eldon was only six years old, his mother succumbed to tuberculosis. While attending the Lincoln High School in Nowata, his father passed in 1948 from pneumonia at the age of 82. Eldon took a room with Ada Scott and supported himself by working before and after school as a stocker at a grocery store for $10 a week. After graduating high school, Eldon worked the summer for the St. Louis Railroad. In the fall of 1950 he began three years at Kansas Technical Institute in Topeka, Kansas., where he learned how to lay brick and repair automobiles.
After three years in school, the draft board of the United States would not allow another year's exemption and Eldon joined the Army in September of 1953 in the 4th Support Unit at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas. He was transferred to Fort Sill in Oklahoma where he went to Trax School to learn to repair tanks. In 1954 he was sent to Salzburg, Austria for a year, returning to the States to reenlist and was stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts.
While Eldon was stationed at Fort Devens, he met Wilda Simmons at a dance at the Social Club in 1956. They courted and Eldon asked her to marry him on her birthday July 3rd, 1957. They were married on November 8, 1958 at the First United Baptist Church in Lowell, MA. The newlyweds spent a few days in Hillsboro, NH at the home of David and Harriet Latham and then they spent the rest of for their honeymoon in Minnesota at Eldon's Aunt Myrtle's home.
Eldon reenlisted in 1958 and was deployed to Korea. He returned from Korea in January 1960 and was stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. He and Wilda found a place to live in Lawton, OK, and this is where they welcomed their first son, Sheldon Walter Chapman on December 27, 1960. Eldon was honorably discharged from the Army in February 1962 after eight years in service to his country. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal.
In 1962 the Chapman family moved to Lowell, MA where Wilda had family and rented an apartment on Concord Street. In September 1962, Eldon secured a job at the Veteran's Administration in Bedford, MA where he worked until retiring in 1987. Eldon then obtained a job in 1987 at Mitre Corporation and worked there until he retired in
 He spent the last 15 years assisting at Mill City Environmental.   He was there from the first day the doors were opened in 2001 through his last day.  He was one of main gears that helped keep things moving.  He was the Mr. C of MCE.  
On November 1, 1962, their second child Brian Lydell Chapman was born.
On March 24, 1968 their third son Lionel Sanford Chapman was born and later that year the family bought a home on Third Street where the family lives to this day.
On July 18, 1973, their fourth and final son August Chapman II was born.
Eldon enjoyed watching golf on television with Sheldon and Brian and in 1974 after learning there was a 9-hole course at the Veterans Administration hospital he decided to learn the game with his two sons in tow. He instilled in them a love for the game and when Gus was able to play he was also able to introduce him to the game. Gus became the first African-American player to qualify for the Lowell City Tournament in 2016. Eldon could not have been prouder of his accomplishment. On June 17, 1988, Eldon did what most golfers never get to do – he landed a hole-in-one at the 8th hole of the Stow Acres Country Club and then a second one at Hickory Hill Country Club.
By far the happiest and proudest parts of Eldon's life are his five grandchildren. He lived to see them grow into fine young adults:
Presley Chapman, born November 26, 1992;
Ryan Xavier Chapman, born April 25, 1993;
Sterling Chapman, born October 27, 1996;
Kalee Anne Chapman, born March 18, 1997; and
Lauren Patricia Chapman, born February 9, 1998.
They called him Grandpa and Buddy and adored their grandfather.
Eldon was a very active supporter and member of the Merrimack Valley Branch of the NAACP and served as its president from September 1974 – December 1974. On November 8, 2014 he was given the "Unsung Heroes" Freedom Fund Award, for his work with the Merrimack Valley Branch.
Eldon was always extremely active in the church community, joining the congregation at First United Baptist Church in Lowell, MA in 1962, where he served as a Deacon, Superintendent of Sunday School, taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and he also served on various boards and committees. The Chapman's then became members of the Zion Baptist Church in Lynn with Reverend Dr. Everett Frye. For the past 26 years, Eldon and Wilda have been well respected members of the Calvary Baptist Church in Haverhill, MA where Eldon served as a Deacon, taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, led Bible Studies, led classes for new converts and sang in the Men's choir. In 1992 and 2005 Eldon was awarded the Walter D. Medley, Sr. Award celebrating the outstanding men of Calvary who show their love, he was also awarded the Christian Education Appreciation Award in 1996. In 2005, Eldon was given an appreciation award for his faithful service and dedication to the church and was appointed to Emeritus Status of the Diaconate Service. He also received numerous awards and recognition for his service to the church.
Eldon left this world to be with his Lord on January 28, 2017. He leaves to mourn his loving wife of 58 years, Wilda Simmons Chapman of Lowell, MA; his sons Sheldon Walter Chapman and wife Karen of Townsend, MA; Brian Lydell Chapman and his wife Mary of Dracut, MA; Lionel Sanford Chapman and his wife Lorrie of Lowell, MA; and August Chapman II of Lowell, MA. He also leaves his five grandchildren Presley Chapman, Ryan Xavier Chapman, Sterling Chapman, Kalee Anne Chapman, and Lauren Patricia Chapman, his loving Goddaughter Vanessa Burton Farris, Godson Cameron Jones and a host of nieces and nephews. Eldon was predeceased by his brothers Augustus Chapman, Louis Chapman, and his sister Iris Chapman Brown.