Obituary for Ted Chapman

Theodore “Ted” Dale Chapman a longtime resident of Newkirk passed away on October 11, 2013, at The Renaissance Senior Living Center in Ponca City. He was 96 years old.

Ted was born on December 15, 1916 in Arkansas City, Kansas, the son of Leroy “Roy” Ervin and Adeline “Addie” Lurina Bell Chapman. Ted grew up on a farm northwest of Newkirk and attended Newkirk High School.

On October 9, 1939, in Sedan, Kansas, Ted married Mary Junetta Onstott of Braman, Oklahoma. Mary is the daughter of Harry Ordo and Rebecca Susan McCleary Onstott. The couple made their first home in Arkansas City, Kansas, where Ted was employed at Keith Packing House.

The Chapman’s later moved to northwestern Kansas where Ted worked as a driller in the oil field. In 1952 they moved to a farm northwest of Newkirk where they lived until 1969 when they built a home in Newkirk. In addition to farming, Ted was a construction worker with the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 767 in Ponca City. Ted retired from farming in 1976 but continued to help his farm neighbors during harvest for several years. In 1978 Ted retired from the construction businesses so that he and Mary could travel.

Ted loved boating and water skiing with family and friends at Blackwell Lake and Grand Lake. He was an avid fan of Bob Wills and country swing music. Ted and Mary traveled many years to Turkey, Texas for the annual Bob Wills celebration. They also went to Branson, Missouri several times a year to see their favorite country stars. Mary and Ted attended many weekend dance trips to Western Hills Lodge on Ft. Gibson Lake which is where they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2009. When home in Newkirk, Ted and Mary danced several nights a week at various surrounding senior citizen centers.

Ted was a member of the Moose Lodge in Ponca City since 1972 receiving legion of the Moose and fellowship degrees.

Ted is survived by his wife, two sons, Dr. Leon Chapman and wife Jean of Surprise, Arizona; Dale Chapman and wife Lanita of Ponca City; one grandson, Eric Chapman and wife Tammy, two great-grandchildren Skylar Joann and Wyatt Dale all of Gilbert, Arizona; and two grand-doggies ParrParr and Boggie of Ponca City. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Robert Leroy Chapman.

Visitation will be at the Roberts and Son Funeral Home in Blackwell on Sunday evening from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and visitation in Newkirk will be at the First Christian Church on Monday evening from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 15th in the First Christian Church in Newkirk with the Rev. Robert Montgomery of Ponca City officiating. Burial will follow in the Newkirk Cemetery.

Casket bearers will be Curt Johnstone, Mike Hull, John Spore, Eric Chapman, Gerald Oestmann, and Randy Bowman. Serving as honorary casket bearers will be Elmer Cummings, Lawrence Rippe, David Greenwood, Gary Kahle, and Bill Snow.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma through any branch of Eastman National Bank.