Harry William Chalmers

Harry is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sara; children, Melissa Sampe' (Paul) of Fairfield, California; Shane (April Kemp) of Vacaville, California; and Jacqueline of Benicia, California; grandchildren, Paul Sampe' Jr. (Kathy), Chance Chalmers (Lauren), Macy Chalmers, Tawny Honeychurch (Sam), and Darius Sampe' (Shalimar); and five great-grandchildren (with one on the way!). Harry is preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and James (Jack) Henry Chalmers, of Eldon, Missouri; and a brother, Jimmy, of Raymore, Missouri.

Harry was born on April 7, 1937, in Eldon, Missouri. He graduated from Eldon High School in 1954; then attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri, with plans to become a school teacher like his mother and brother (his father was an railroad engineer). But In 1957, Harry left Missouri with his (still) best friend, Ed Stewart, and the two made their way to California in pursuit of something more. Harry built his success in concrete construction and in 1986, he and his business partner and fellow Missourian, Harold Strange, formed Strange & Chalmers, Inc., out of Vallejo, California. Harry's sound integrity throughout the industry was well-known, and his extraordinary legacy lives on to this day through the company, where his son, Shane, and grandson, Chance, still proudly work and own stake.

The family is hosting a reception to celebrate Harry's life on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Discovery Bay Golf & Country Club, 1475 Clubhouse Drive, Discovery Bay, California 94505.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Suncrest Hospice, 1777 Botelho Drive, Suite 240, Walnut Creek, California 94596; (408) 900-8838.