Ellen Thain Chapman

Ellen Thain Chapman, 65 went to be with her Lord and Savior Sunday morning, February 24, 2019 in Fort Worth, TX.  A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 4, 2019 at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Wounded Warrior Project.  She was born, August 30, 1953 in Bradenton, Florida to Robert Whatley, Jr. and Marna Whatley. Ellen grew up in Bradenton, Florida where she graduated from Manatee High School in 1971.  She continued her education achieving a Master’s of Science degree at East Texas State University.  She joined the United States Air Force in 1974 where she proudly served nine years reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant.  Ellen was employed at Lockheed Martin and later by BNSF Railway in Fort Worth, TX.  She retired from BNSF Railway in 2014.  Ellen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who greatly enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.  She appreciated the “beach life” and the sun.  Ellen was a devout Christian and had a gift for always remaining positive and seeing the best in everyone and all things.  Ellen was passionate about supporting veterans through the Wounded Warriors Project and anything to do with arts and graphic design.  She took pleasure in picking up a good book as often as possible.  Ellen and her husband, Rich, were corvette enthusiasts and were active with several corvette clubs throughout the years. Ellen married Richard Chapman in 1991.  Ellen and Richard lived at several locations in the Fort Worth and Weatherford, Texas areas moving to Florida after Ellen’s retirement in 2014.  They returned to Weatherford, Texas in July of 2018. Ellen is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard Chapman of Weatherford, Texas; her father, Robert and her mother, Marna.  Ellen is survived by her sister, Betty (Dan) McNabney of Peru, IL; her brother, Robert Whatley of Sarasota, FL; her children Curtis (Christy), Chris (Robin), Philip (Amanda), Erin (Joe), and Casey; a niece and three nephews, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and two great-nephews.