Irving Chappell's Obituary
Funeral Services will be held, 1:00 PM, Monday, January 18th at Columbia Funeral Home for Irving Chappell. Mr. Chappell passed away January 11, 2010 in Lapeer, Michigan. He was 93.
Born June 2nd 1916 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Samuel Harison and Laura May McLean Chappell, he was the 2nd of three children.
Raised in Copalis Crossing, Washington he helped his dad with the towing service out of the Red Wrecker Garage.
At the age 13, Irving, his mother Laura, his sister Fern and brother Deane moved to the Chapman area near Scappoose, Oregon. At the age if 19 he met Hazel Skuzie, the local schoolteacher and they married the following year, June 2, 1936 at the Free Methodist Church where they became members. She preceded him in death June 30, 1996.
Irving and Hazel lived in Vernonia, OR where he worked on the Clark & Wilson Logging Railroad. After one year they moved to St. Helens where he worked in Marion Van Tassels Garage. Following that, he drove school buses and fuel trucks for Tom Holstein.
He volunteered to serve in the US Army during WW II, served in both the Pacific and the Atlantic Theater, being stationed in Germany and the Philippine Islands and was honorably discharged
as a Staff Sargent in 1946.
Following the service he worked for Signal Oil Co. for 10 years after which he founded and operated Chappell Oil Company until 1973. In 1974 he joined his sons Don and Wayne to form Chappell Transportation Co. The company did many projects including logging roads construction for Weyerhaeuser Company around Mount St. Helens. Irving continued to own and operate his dump truck until he was 80 years old when he then retired.
He is survived by:
Sons; Don Chappell & Wayne Chappell both of St. Helens, OR, daughters; Mary Garman of Escondido, CA, and Margaret "Peggy" Burback of Rainier, OR, brother; Deane Chappell of Scappoose, niece Arlene Ball of Deep Water, Missouri and his dear cousin and companion of several years, Betty Robison of Otter Lake, MI. Additionally, Irving enjoyed 8 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren and many many cousins.
Committal and burial services will be at Bethany Memorial Cemetery, Warren, Oregon
Following the graveside service the family will be having a public reception at the Warren Country Inn
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.columbiafh.com
Contributions may be made to:
Free Methodist Church
2746 Ocean Beach Hwy.
Longview, WA 98632
360-577-0580
What’s your fondest memory of Irving?
What’s a lesson you learned from Irving?
Share a story where Irving's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Irving you’ll never forget.
How did Irving make you smile?