Clifford Edward Chapman, 79, of Hanover, PA, passed away on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at Gettysburg Center - Genesis Health Care due to cancer.
Born on May 4, 1934, Clifford was raised in Washington D.C. as an only child of the late Thelma Mae Moore and stepson of the late Dr. Joseph Raymond Moore. Cliff loved playing baseball from a young age and played on as many as three teams at once. His fondest baseball memory was working as a bat boy in the visitor’s clubhouse for the Washington Senators where he met many legendary players including Yogi Berra, Walter Johnson, Connie Mack, Billy Martin and Joe DiMaggio.
In the tenth grade his family relocated to the Gettysburg area where Cliff attended Gettysburg High School and played basketball, baseball, and football. He joined the United States Navy where he received extensive medical training as a hospital corpsman and specialized in optics. While on leave from Camp Lejeune after a Mediterranean tour, Cliff met Lucille Weaver in Gettysburg. They were married six months later for 58 wonderful years during which time they lived in Maryland, Virginia, Japan, Cuba and Pennsylvania.
Cliff’s Navy career as a First Class Petty Officer took him on adventures around the world including Puerto Rico, Spain, France, Turkey, Italy, Japan, Cuba and Vietnam. While raising his children in Cuba, his love of baseball lead to coaching where he enjoyed teaching proper technique and sportsmanship to his players. In 1971 Cliff retired from the Navy and began his second career in optics. In 1973 he joined the Bowers & Snyder Guild Opticians of Towson for twenty four years. During his optical career he received the Optician of the Year and The Distinguished Optician awards for the state of Maryland. He served on the board of the Opticians Association of Maryland as Treasurer and Vice President and established the annual Opticians Convention, Multi Visions, for continuing education. In 1997, Cliff and Lucille retired to Pennsylvania.
He loved gardening and growing roses, especially the double delight rose. From his love of golf he started a senior league at The Bridges with the Annual Chapee Cup Tournament. He also excelled as a bowler and was invited to compete in the senior state tournament in Harrisburg.
Cliff is survived by his loving wife, Lucille V Chapman of Hanover; his children, Debra and Steve Rowland, of Towson, MD; Joseph Chapman, of Hampstead, MD; Clifford and Evangeline Chapman, II, of Chesapeake, VA; Laura Chapman and Scott Breshears, of Gig Harbor, WA; and Daniel and Stephanie Chapman; of Wailuku, Maui, HI; his grandchildren, Amanda & Justin Short, Stewart Rowland, Karissa Chapman and Jaydon Chapman.
The family of Clifford E. Chapman wishes to thank the kind and loving staff of Johns Hopkins Healthcare & Hospital, Hanover Hospital, and the Gettysburg Center for their kindness and caring treatment of Clifford in his final days.
A memorial service will be held at 11 AM Saturday, December 7, 2013 at Homewood Chapel at Plum Creek. Inurnment will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Homewood at Plum Creek Benevolence Fund , 425 Westminster Avenue, Hanover, PA 17331.
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