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Richard T. Chappelle Sr., 83, passed away Wednesday November 2, 2005. He was born in Fort Myers (Iona) the son of the late Fred and Fredia Chappelle and was predeceased by his wife of 48 years Gloria and his brother John. Richard and Gloria were native pioneers of Fort Myers and Lee County. Richard joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942 and served his country in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He was proud to have been a a tail gunner of "DAUNTLESS" fighter plane. After his service he returned home and to his love of the water. He was the foreman for the Kinzie Brothers Steamer Line. He oversaw the four ferry boats that provided service from Punta Rassa to Sanibel and Captiva Islands prior to the construction of the Sanibel causeway. In 1960 he took employment with U.S. Postal Service. He remained at the local office until his retirement 22 years later.

During the 1960's he was one of the founding members of the Iona-McGregor Volunteer Fire Department and served as one of the departments first Volunteer Fire Chiefs. While he had a great love for the old-Florida outdoors, he will be remembered by his children & grandchildren for his strong, quiet, gentlemanly guidance in life.

Richard is survived by his children; Jeannie C. Bass and her husband Jim; Fire Chief of Fort Myers, Richard T. Chappelle Jr. and his wife Bonnie; Major Matthew A. Chappelle (retired) of the Fort Myers Police Department and his wife Sherry; John M. Chappelle; Laura Leigh Gray and her husband Matthew, and grandchildren; Jennifer and Jeannie Bass; Eric, Emily, Mollie and Kimberly Chappelle; Melissa, Amanda and Jessica Chappelle and several nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

The family receive friends and relatives 2 PM to 5 PM Tuesday and 9 AM to 10 AM Wednesday at the Harvey-Engelhardt-Metz Funeral Home, 1600 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Victor Willis at 10 AM Wednesday with internment to follow at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Richard may be made to the SouthWest Florida Historical Society at 10091A McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33919.

(Published in The Fort Myers News-Press on November 6, 2005)

Richard married Gloria Bernice Crumpler 1952, Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida, USA. Gloria was born 15 Oct 1926, Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida, USA; died 18 Apr 2000, Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida, USA; was buried 21 Apr 2000, Fort Myers Memorial Gardens - Fort Myers, Florida, USA. [Group Sheet]

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Gloria C. Chappelle, 73, of Fort Myers, passed away Tuesday, April 18, 2000, following an extended illness. Born Oct. 15, 1926, she was a third generation native of Fort Myers and has been a lifelong resident. Before her marriage, she taught school on Sanibel. She was a member of the United Methodist Church. She enjoyed wildlife, growing flowers, and fishing.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Richard T. Chappelle, Sr.; three sons, Fire Chief of Fort Myers, Richard T. Chappelle, Jr. and his wife Bonnie of Fort Myers, Major Matthew A. Chappelle of the Fort Myers Police Department and his wife Sherry of Fort Myers and John M. Chappelle residing in Germany; two daughters, Jeannie C. Bass and her husband James, and Laura Leigh Gray and her husband Matthew, both of Fort Myers; nine grandchildren: Jennifer and Jeannie Bass, Melissa, Amanda, Jessica, Eric, Emily, Mollie and Kimberly Chappelle, all of Fort Myers; brother, Leon Crumpler and his wife, Maxine of Fort Myers; two sisters, Barbara Briggs and her husband James and Ruby Latt and her husband Franklin, all of Fort Myers. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at Harvey-Engelhardt-Metz Funeral Home, 1600 Colonial Blvd.

Pallbearers will be Gloria's brother, Leon Crumpler; her sons, Richard T. Chappelle Jr., Matthew A. Chappelle and John M. Chappelle and sons-in-law, James Bass and Matthew Gray; Honorary Pallbearers: George Watson, William Davis, Walter Kaune and James Tiner.

Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

(Published in The Fort Myers News-Press on April 21, 2000)

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Fred B. Chappelle, 82, of Route 5 Box 262, Fort Myers, died Sunday night.

He was a retired wire chief for Western Union and had lived here for the past 54 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Survivors include two sons, Richard T. Chappelle of Fort Myers and John F. Chappelle of Miami.

Funeral service will be held Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Leo W. Engelhardt Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles C. Trembly officiating.

Burial will be in Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

(Published in The Fort Myers News-Press on April 9, 1974)

Frederick married Frieda Helena Walker 9 Jan 1918, Key West, Monroe County, Florida, USA. Frieda (daughter of John Randall Walker and Hester Elizabeth Swain) was born 6 Mar 1898, Titusville, Brevard County, Florida, USA; died 4 Nov 1970, Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida, USA; was buried 7 Nov 1970, Fort Myers Memorial Gardens - Fort Myers, Florida, USA. [Group Sheet]

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Mrs. Frieda W. Chappelle, 72, of Iona, died Wednesday. She had lived here for the past 50 years.

Survivors include her husband, Fred B. Chappelle of Iona; sons, John F. Chappelle of Miami, Richard T. Chappelle of Iona; brother, Hans T. Walker of Spartanburg, S. C.; a sister, Mrs. Theresa Foxworth of Jacksonville, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Leo W. Engelhardt Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles Trembley officiating. Pallbearers will be Roland Shanahan, Howard Wilson, George Watson, Walter Buttram, Jerry Engle and Harold Henschen. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

(Published in The Fort Myers News-Press on November 6, 1970)

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PROMINENT CITIZEN OF TITUSVILLE DIES

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John R. Walker, Father of George Walker of This City Is Claimed By Death

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TITUSVILLE, Aug. 5 - Funeral services for John R. Walker, president of the local civic league, and one of the most prominent citizens of Brevard county, who died suddenly Thursday night, will be held here Sunday afternoon. Mr. Walker, who was 58 years old, had held numerous municipal and county offices since coming here from South Carolina 34 years ago.

He had served as county school superintendent, chairman of the board of county commissioners, and mayor of Titusville Beach Company. He had presided at a meeting of the Civic League Thursday night and jocularly complained of the heat but appeared in his usual good health. He died a few minutes after returning home from the meeting. Death was caused by the bursting of a blood vessel near the heart.

Mr. Walker, who was prominent in various fraternal organizations, is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Hester Elizabeth Swain of Titusville, three sons and a daughter.

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Son in Miami

George Walker of Miami is a son of the deceased, and another son, Charles Walker, is residing in Boston, Mass. Mr. Walker was well known in Florida as the "father of the league" which was organized to build a bridge across the Indian river, connecting Titusville with the ocean, and to build a road to Orlando and another to Orsino on Merritt Island. The people ratified Mr. Walker's idea at the polls, voting the bods for the proposed improvements, and it is a marked coincidence that on the day of his death the Brevard county commissioners let the contract for the bridge and roads which he conceived.

(Published in The Miami Herald on August 5, 1921)



Obituary:

Sudden Death of Titusville's Most Prominent Citizen Last Wednesday Night

Was President of the Titusville Civic League, Postmaster of Titusville Six Years and Prominent in Fraternal Organizations

Every heart-beat of the late John Randall Walker was for the good of the people and the benefit of this community. He was Titusville's first citizen.

Before the Titusville Civic League meeting was called to order Wednesday night by President John R. Walker he joked with friends about the heat, but appeared in his usual good health. As a presiding officer he was a model, and he never appeared to better advantage than Wednesday night. An hour after the meeting he was dead, dying ten minutes after he reached his home. Dr. Stephens, who was called immediately, said death was caused by a burst blood vessel in the vicinity of the heart.

Mr. Walker was 58 years old; was born in Beaufort, S.C., July 27, 1863. He came to Titusville 34 years ago, and was married in 1889 to Hester Elizabeth Swain. He leaves his widow and three sons and one daughter: Chas. N. Walker of Boston, George R. Walker of Miami, Hans T. Walker of Fort Myers and Mrs. D. B. Chappelle of Punta Rossa; and one brother, Wm. R. Walker of South Jacksonville.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 Sunday afternoon.

At the time of his death Mr. Walker was superintendent of the Baptist Sunday-school and president of the Titusville Civic League; and on the night of his death was elected president of the Titusville Beach Co. He was postmaster of Titusville six years, resigning on July 1. He also served the people as county school superintendent, chairman of the board of county commissioners and mayor of Titusville.

Mr. Walker was especially prominent in fraternal organizations -- was a deputy grand chancellor in the Knights of Pythias, a Shriner and Knight Templar in the Masons, a past noble grand in the Odd Fellows, and a past council commander in the Woodmen of the World.

(Published in The Star Advocate on August 5, 1921)

John married Hester Elizabeth Swain 1 Jul 1889, Lakeland, Polk County, Florida, USA. Hester (daughter of Charles Jahue Swain and Mary Jane Crow) was born 26 Nov 1862, Jonesboro, Union County, Illinois, USA; died 15 Oct 1933, Homestead, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA; was buried 16 Oct 1933, Oaklawn Memorial Gardens - Titusville, Florida, USA. [Group Sheet]

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MOTHER OF PASTOR DIES AFTER ILLNESS

HOMESTEAD, Fla., Oct. 16 - Mrs. Hester Elizabeth Walker, 70, died yesterday at the home of her son, Rev. C. N. Walker, after an illness resulting from a fractured hip suffered several months ago. Mrs. Walker's home was in Titusville but she made her home with her son the last 10 months. The body was sent tonight to Titusville where funeral services will be conducted tomorrow.

(Published in The Miami Herald on October 17, 1933)



Obituary:

Mrs. Walker Dies After Long Illness

Funeral at 3 P.M. Today; Burial at Memorial Park Cemetery

Mrs. Hester Elizabeth Walker, resident of this city for many years, passed away Sunday afternoon at the home of her son, Rev. C. N. Walker of Homestead, where she had been visiting during the past year.

Mrs. Walker was 70 years of age, and had suffered a stroke a number of months ago from which she never recovered.

Funeral services will be held this afternoon from the First Baptist Church, Rev. Robert Holmes conducting the service. Burial will be in the family plot at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Walker came to Florida in her youth with her parents, who first settled at Lakeland where they engaged in business. Later they moved to Titusville, where Mrs. Walker and her husband, John R. Walker, took a leading part in civic and social life here for many years. Mr. Walker passed away in July 1921.

The deceased leaves a daughter and three sons, Mrs. Mary P. Chappell of Punta Gorda, Fla., Rev. C. N. Walker of Homestead, Geo R. Walker of Miami, and Hans T. Walker of Titusville.

She also leaves four brothers and a sister, J. W. Swain and Mrs. A. N. Wright of Tallahassee, Lee Swain of Atlanta, Chas. Swain of Lakeland and Willis Swain of Jacksonville.

(Published in The East Coast Advocate on October 17, 1933)