Obituary of John H Chapman

John Harold Chapman entered this life on November 7, 1922 in San Francisco, CA. John and his sister Inez spent their early years in foster care. He found work on farms in Petaluma until he was 17 when he had an opportunity to go to fleet week in San Francisco. John was drawn to the Navy ships and luxurious life the Navy offered. John joined the Navy November 7th, the day he turned 18. After completing his basic training in Long Beach CA, he was immediately stationed on the USS West Virginia which was leaving for its destination at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. John earned a purple heart for his bravery and injuries sustained during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. John served in the Navy for 23 years surviving WWll, Viet Nam, and Korea before retiring. John spent many years thereafter in close touch with the Pearl Harbor survivors group.

John and his wife Betty were married January 29, 1949 and enjoyed almost 69 years of marriage. A carpenter at heart analways thinking of ways to help others, John spent his time creating in his workshop, tending his garden, and travelling with his wife. John and Betty were avid dancers and water ski enthusiasts. John was a man who would help a friend, or a stranger in need and taught all of his children how to pay it forward.John was a cherished father to Jon, Erick, and Valerie and deeply loved and respected by his daughter in law, Elizabeth, as well as his son in law, Mike. He was beloved by his grandchildren Bryan, Erin, MIchael, Desti, and Ambi. John has six beautiful great grandchildren that he treasured as well, Joshua, Nathan, Paige, Dominick, Megan and Kai. John entered eternal life on March 17, 2019 after a good fight against cancer. John is survived by his sister Inez and son Erick and their families.

John had the most loving and giving heart and will be remembered for many things but mostly for his love and devotion to his family and his faith, and trust in God.
Military Burial Service will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon CA at 11:30AM on April 18, 2019.