F. C. (Hap) Chandler Jr.

F.C. (HAP) Chandler Jr. 95, passed from this life October 10, 2016 with his family at his bedside. Hap was born on July 28, 1921 in Toccoa, GA. Hap graduated from Toccoa High School in 1938, went on to Wheaton College and later graduated from the University of Georgia in 1947. He is preceded in death by his wife Sarah Margaret Willins Chandler of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is survived by his four children, 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren: daughter Heather Chandler Nichols, her husband Jimmy and their three children Jim Nichols and wife Kristin, Paul Nichols and wife Lauran, Allyson Nichols Miller and her husband Bartley, daughter Barbara Chandler, daughter Laura Chandler White and her husband Bryan, and son Ricky Chandler, his wife Beth and their sons Carter and Will Chandler. Hap is blessed with 6 great grandchildren: John, Harrison and Reagan Miller, Drew, Jack and Gray Nichols. All of the children and their families live in Atlanta except for Paul and Lauran Nichols who live in Davidson, NC.

Hap joined the US Air Force in 1942. After 28 years of active duty, he retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1969. He served in WWII, Korean War and Viet Nam War. He served as a member of the Mighty 8th Air Force, earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, 4 Battle Stars in Europe, 2 Battle Stars in Korea as well as 2 Presidential Unit Citations. His duties took him to 6 continents and all 50 states before he retired from the Air Force in 1969. He took on 2 other careers in Atlanta: Cousins Property Management and later with the engineering firm designing the Atlanta MARTA rail system. Hap continued his love for his USAF becoming the President of the 8th Air Force Historical Society, Founding Committee of Mighty 8th Air Force Museum in Savannah, GA, President of 2nd Air Division Association, Trustee of Mighty 8th Air Force Museum, National Aviation Committee Chairman, Georgia Aviation Chairman, Sandy Springs Veteran of the Year and member of Sandy Springs Rotary Club.

Hap had another great love for his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was an avid sports fan following the grandchildren’s sporting activities for years. He loved following them from Murphy Candler baseball, NYO baseball, golf tournaments, Marist School sporting events and Davidson College football games. Hap was also an avid traveler and returned many times to Edinburgh, Scotland the home of his wife Margaret. He was a member of Peachtree Presbyterian Church and later North Avenue Presbyterian Church.

A memorial service will be held in The Kellett Chapel at Peachtree Presbyterian Church 3434 Roswell Road Atlanta 30305 at 10am Friday Oct 14. Following the service will be a reception in the church parlor where the family will receive friends of Hap. In lieu of flowers: memorial donations may be made in his honor to Mighty 8th Air Force Museum, 175 Bourne Ave. Pooler, GA 31322 or Earl Palmer Ministries, PO Box 85117, Seattle WA. 98145 or Marist School 3790 Ashford Dunwoody Road Atlanta, GA 30319.