David Frank Chapman

David Frank Chapman, age 84, passed away on Sunday, the 1st of May 2016 surrounded by his loving family. Dave was born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania on the 18th of September 1931. His family moved to Covina, California when he was a child. Dave graduated from Rice University with a degree in architecture in 1953. At Rice he met and married his classmate Erminie Chambers. They married on the 9th of June 1951 and were married for sixty-four years.

Upon graduation Dave began his lifelong career in construction by going to work for his father-in-law, Dunbar Chambers, at Farnsworth & Chambers. After the death of his father-in-law, he co-founded Warrior Construction, which was later sold to Zapata. In 1971 Dave left Zapata to found the Mayan Group, which provided construction management services on a variety of projects throughout the Southwest. He later sold Mayan to Gilbane Building Company where he remained as Vice President – Southwest Division until his retirement.

Dave was a member of the Houston Country Club, Young Presidents Organization, World Presidents Organization, Associated General Contractors and St Luke’s United Methodist Church.

Dave was a devoted husband, brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He loved playing tennis, quail hunting, fly fishing and he took great joy in introducing his grandchildren to Europe and the beauty of the Texas Hill Country.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Susan Green Chapman; and his brother, Jay Chapman. He is survived by his wife, Erminie Chapman; his children, Paul Chapman and wife Cathy, Ann McGuyer and husband Frank, Carrie Chapman, Crista Trammell and husband Ripley, Clara Malone and husband Lee, Ruth Hancock and husband Kirk; sister, Susie Latimer; brother, John Green; twelve grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

Friends are cordially invited to a reception celebrating Dave’s life, at five o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 8th of May, at the Houston Country Club, 1 Potomac Drive in Houston.

In lieu of usual remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to Rice University at www.giving.rice.edu.