Tampa, FL - Richard Christian Chapman, 57, a beloved child of God, departed this life on January 9, 2018, after a long courageous battle with frontotemporal degeneration. A native of Asheville, NC, he was an honors graduate from T.C. Roberson High School, and a member of the regional championship soccer team, before matriculating to N.C. State University where he received a B.S. degree also with honors in chemical engineering followed by a B.S. degree in electrical and computer engineering and an M.S. degree in materials science & engineering. Mr. Chapman had an outstanding career in the semiconductor industry involving travel throughout the United States and the world garnering both patents and invention disclosures. He served for some time as a member of the engineering advisory board at Virginia Commonwealth University. We wish to thank his many friends and work colleagues for their contributions to his life and express special appreciation to the Department of the Navy who graciously worked with him during the onset of his illness.
He was predeceased by his mother, Leona Schultze Chapman and his father, James M. Chapman, Sr. Mr. Chapman is survived by his wife, Elaine, and two beautiful daughters, Lindsay and Shelby and a grandson, Noah, to all of whom he was completely devoted. Mr. Chapman is further survived by his two brothers, Steven F. Chapman, M.D. (Michelle) and James M. Chapman Jr., PhD.
His devotion to his family was further characterized by coaching his daughter's soccer teams and camping with them and other fathers as part of the Indian Princess Program. Throughout his life he was also extraordinarily devoted to his alma mater, N.C. State and its Wolfpack athletic teams.
Funeral arrangements will be handled by Blount and Curry Funeral Home, January 15, 2018 with an 10:00am visitation at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 1711 E 11th Ave, Tampa, FL, 33605, followed by a Mass at 11:00am. Interment will follow at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, Tampa. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (www.theaftd.org), Radnor, Pennsylvania.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18