Betty Ruth Chapman, age 87, passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter, Debbie Biggs on Thursday, October 10, 2013. She was born to the late Sherman and Margaret (Hodge) McClung in Bluffton, Ohio on August 25, 1926. She graduated from Ironton High School in 1945 and moved with her parents to Jackson immediately after graduation. She was selected in 1946 as 1st attendant for the Jackson County Apple Festival court.
Betty met her future husband, Edmund Chapman Jr., while he was taking pictures of the queen and the court in the apple orchard for his father’s newspaper. They were married on Christmas day, December 25, 1946. They honeymooned in New York City and saw the ball drop in Times Square. Ed and Betty had four daughters, Rebecca Auxier Stroth, Deborah Woolum Biggs, Melissa Lynn Wilson Heine, and Sarah (Tom) Hubbard.
Betty is survived by her sisters, Diane Davis (John) Adkins, and Janice Sue (Ron) Osborne; her four daughters; five grandchildren, Gregory (Deisa) Chapman Woolum, Donald (Heather) Keith Woolum Jr., Amanda Lynn Auxier, Margaret Ruth Wilson, and Marion Elizabeth Wilson; seven great-grandchildren, Jacob Keith Woolum, Mason Gregory Woolum, Madison Leigh Woolum, Abagail Lynn Woolum, Zella Marie Woolum, Lydia Grace Woolum, and Rhys Elizabeth Wilson; also numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband of over 50 years, and a grandchild, Edmund Gregory Chapman (Chappy) Stroth.
Betty was a member of the Jackson Christian Church and later became a member of the Christ United Methodist Church and their Women’s Bible Study; she was also a member of the Jackson Study Club. She was loved by many and her beautiful smile and great kindness will be missed by all.
Viewing will be held on Saturday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church with the funeral service immediately following at 12:30 p.m., at the church, 150 Portsmouth Street, Jackson, Ohio 45640. Burial will follow in Fairmount Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ United Methodist Church, 150 Portsmouth Street, Jackson, Ohio 45640, for the Wednesday night community dinner. Arrangements are under the direction of Lewis & Gillum Funeral Home of Jackson, Ohio. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisgillumfuneralhomes.com.
via Betty Ruth Chapman – www.theTelegramNews.com | Jackson and Vinton County’s Home Page – Jackson, OH.