Richard Neil Chapman of South Padre Island, Texas passed away on Friday, January 15, 2021, in Brownsville, Texas at the age of 68.
Chapman was born on March 22, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan to Goldie and Alice (Moore) Chapman. He was raised at a young age by his uncle and aunt, Gerald and Patricia McMillan, after both his mother and father passed away. After high school, he moved to California where he graduated with an Associate of Arts degree from DeAnza College. There he met and married Peggy Sokol in 1973 and moved to Richardson, Texas shortly thereafter. He had three children and he was an avid family man.
Chapman enjoyed many years working in the pool and spa industry. In 1999, he moved from Richardson to Galveston, Texas where he was “on top of the world with the woman of his dreams,” Angela. They were married for 18 years. Together they loved to travel, to have beach days with flags and kites and to socialize. Chapman was involved in the community as well as with the Galveston Bay Parrothead Club and Krewe Babalu, a Galveston Mardi Gras Krewe. In 2004, he was King Baba VIII with his wife as Queen Lu VIII.
He was a man who made everyone’s life richer by his presence. His warmth and genuine love for people was evident with every encounter whether you met him once or knew him for a lifetime. When someone would say, “It was nice to see you,” his response would always be, “Yes, it was nice to see me.” He always parted ways with, “Love you. Mean it.” His presence will be deeply missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jane Chapman.
Rick is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, Angela; his three children Ricky Chapman (Erica) of Allen, Texas, Kevin Chapman (Cheryl) of Mankato, Minnesota, and Kristi Chapman of McKinney, Texas; his granddaughters Kate, Avery, Laura, Claire and Alice; his ex-wife, Peggy Chapman; his many nieces and nephews; his dear grandpuppy Marley; and too many friends to count.
A Memorial Service will be held in Galveston, Texas at a later date.
In lieu of flowers and customary remembrances, donations in his memory may be sent to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607, OR to make a donation online, please visit: lovetotherescue.org. Please note that the memorial is for Rick Chapman and designate the location as “Shriners Hospital Child Life Program” of Galveston, Texas. Memories of Chapman may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.
Personalized funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Neil Chapman, please visit: www.darlingmouser.com/ obituary/RichardNeil-Chapman/ sympathy.
March 22, 1952 ~ January 15, 2021
