Obituary of Richard Chapin

Biography Kernersville-Richard R. "Dick" Chapin, 87, went home to be with his Lord April 26, 2011 following a sudden illness. Funeral Services celebrating his life will be held 1:00PM Saturday April 30, 2011 at Main Street United Methodist Church, where he was a member, with Pastor Dr. Jeff Patterson, Rev. Dale Hilton, and Rev. Rick Carter officiating. Entombment will follow at Eastlawn Gardens of Memory. A native of Pond Hill, Pennsylvania, Dick was the son of the late Mabel Andress Chapin and Fred R. Chapin, Sr. He served in the US Navy aboard the USS Capacon in the Gilbert Islands operation during WWII. He earned his pilot's license in 1947 and learned aerial acrobatic stunt maneuvers with a Piper plane. Soon thereafter, he relocated to Elmira, NY where he raised a family with his beloved wife, the late Virginia "Ginny" Chapin, who were married April 24, 1948 in Gillett, PA. Dick grew up on a farm, but spent most of his adult life as an accomplished salesman and teacher of salesmanship. He was also a lifelong student of philosophy and health. He and Ginny relocated to Kernersville in 1977. One of his proudest accomplishments was the completion of a book capturing a lifetime of his wisdom and knowledge. He retired in 2007 as a Controller at The Packaging Source, Inc. where he is dearly missed. He was also a lifelong baseball fan. In addition to his parents and wife, Dick was also preceded in death by brothers Fred, Jr. and Howard Chapin, and sisters Harriet Chapin and Edith Chapin Siegfried. He will be fondly remembered for his unwavering faith, kindness, friendliness, wisdom, wit, and enthusiasm. Dick never met a stranger and he never failed to enjoy and appreciate every day of his life. Survivors include his three beautiful daughters that he truly adored, Darla Fetter Gallehue and Michael of Ohio, Dawn Houseknecht and Bruce of Kernersville, and Diane Kline Tate and Jesse of Winston-Salem; seven grandchildren Richard Fetter and Kristen Fetter of Ohio, Karen Houseknecht Bovender, Bradley Houseknecht and Andrew Houseknecht of Kernersville, Tami Kline Lowry of Winston-Salem, and Timothy Kline of Kernersville; four step-grandchildren Dawn Gallehue Kingman and Erin Gallehue McIntosh of Ohio, Steven Kline of Winston-Salem and Jessica Dalton of Eden; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters Edna Wenner and Beatrice Miller of PA; brothers Harold, Ralph, and Larry Chapin all of PA; former son-in-law Ray Kline of Winston-Salem. The family will visit with friends from 5:00PM until 7:00PM Friday evening at the Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Home. Family and friends are invited to sign and view the guestbook at www.Pierce-JeffersonFuneralService.com Memorial contributions are asked to be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, or The Shepherd's Center of Kernersville. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation for all the care given Dick by the ICU caregivers at Forsyth Medical Center. Service Information