Rev. James Chapman

The Rev. James W. Chapman, 75, died on Saturday, September 15, 2007. It was his childhood ambition to be a minister and the Word never ceased to carry a sense of awe about it for him. After graduation from the University of Massachusetts and then Oberlin Graduate School of Theology he entered the United States Air Force as a Chaplain. Intending to stay only a mandatory three years, he found a calling and ministered to the men and women of the Air Force for 23 years, attaining the rank of colonel. During that time he and his first wife, Katharine brought six children into the world. After his time in the Air Force he retired to become the senior pastor of the Bath United Church of Christ. He rejoiced in 16 more years of ministry among those who rapidly became his friends as well as his parishioners. As he approached retirement from Bath, he was named Bath Township's "Citizen of the Year" in 1995. Upon retirement, Bath Church honored him as "Pastor Emeritus." After his first wife, Katharine's death in 1998, he became active in St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Akron. There he met, fell in love with and married his second wife, Carolyn. Together they have continued to nurture their combined family and share in ministry in both Bath Church and St. Paul's. In 2003 he accepted a call to be the interim Eastern Ohio Association minister for the United Church of Christ. After a year in that position he accepted the interim ministry of the Barberton (OH) Columbia United Church of Christ where his wife, Carolyn joined him as associate interim licensed pastor. They served there until September 2006. That, his children have followed in that devotion to the church has been one of his constant joys. Having served within the embrace of Christ's love, he now rests assured that this same great agent of God's love will care for him in whatever life exists beyond the grave. He believed that life did not end with what we call death. He was very excited to see just what this mystery beyond death was all about. He hopes that all of those who knew and loved him will rejoice that this is for him a mystery no more. He leaves his wife, Carolyn; daughters, Cheryl Summers, Laurel TenHave-Chapman, Elisabeth Chapman-Smith, Cynthia Chapman, Michelle Chapman-Rienstra; and son, James T. Chapman and their spouses; two children by marriage, Suzanne Dalton and David Dalton; 19 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; sister, Florence Littauer; and brother, Ralph Chapman. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at Bath Church, United Church of Christ with Rev. Mark Frey and Rev. Martie McMane officiating. Friends may call at the church Friday 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the James W. Chapman Memorial Fund or Stephen Ministry at Bath Church, United Church of Christ, 3980 W. Bath Rd., Akron, Ohio 44333.