C. Joe Chapman

C. Joe (Charles Joseph) Chapman, 91, of Bellaire, Texas passed away at Methodist Hospital on October 30th, 2015. Born in Houston, Texas, raised in both San Antonio and Houston, Joe graduated from Lamar High School shortly before the advent of WW II. Joe volunteered for the US Army and participated with thousands of others in the Omaha Beach invasion of France and later in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes forest. After the conclusion of the war he returned to Texas where he earned a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Texas in Austin.

In 1947 he met a former classmate from Lamar High School in Houston, Florene Geldard, who soon became his wife, and mother of their five sons. Joe’s career as a Chemical Engineer began with The Texas Company (Texaco). He was recruited by Pona Engineers, an independent E&C company. In 1961 Joe and several partners founded Chapman Engineers, Inc. He subsequently founded Key Engineering Company from which he retired from in the early 1990s.

A highly competitive and hard working person, Joe became involved in the creation of two Bellaire area banks, Citizens National Bank and then Community Nation Bank for which he served as a Board member until a few years ago before retiring. He has been an active member of the Lamar 41 Club. Joe was a member of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Bellaire, Texas since 1958 until the time of his death.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Theresa and Thomas Chapman, sister Mary Chapman Fulton, brothers Thomas (Buddy) Chapman and John Chapman, daughter-in-law Martha Chapman and most importantly his wife of more than 50 years, Florene (Flo) Chapman. He is survived by his five sons Charles, Richard, Thomas, John and Robert, 9 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. He will be missed.

A Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM with a Rosary recited at 7:00 PM, Friday, November 6, 2015 at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 6921 Chetwood Dr. Houston, TX 77081. Following a reception the Rite of Committal will be held at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery. Donations may be made in honor of C.J. Chapman to Holy Ghost Catholic Church.