Arthur Chapman Sr.
Norwich — Arthur Barry Chapman Sr., 71, husband of Myrna (McNaughton) Chapman of Norwich, passed away comfortably Friday, Dec. 22, 2017, at the home of his youngest daughter, surrounded by loved ones.
After decades of practical jokes, elfish smirks and snickers, Arthur put on his trusted Yankees cap, picked up his favorite net and bucket of stringedup chicken wings, and headed off to crab in the best spot ever. Born on Dec. 13, 1946, he was one of the many children of the late Warren Buddington Chapman and Dorothy Madeline (Winkler) Chapman. Although he did not hold the title as the youngest of his siblings, he’d be sure to tell you he was the last of the expansive brood of 15 children to be born at home “on the farm” in Groton.
His childhood was one of any boy growing up on a farm with a large group of siblings and a three-seater outhouse. He survived a life so few are left to recall — walking barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways. Even after an epic slingshot battle claimed the sight in his right eye, he triumphed and overcame adversities to become the best one-eyed truck driver for more than 50 years.
Known by many names, including Art, “Bubba” and “King Arthur,” among his colleagues, he spent his life on the road. Soon after graduating from Waterford High School in 1965, he went to work for McNaughton Rubbish, later marrying the boss’s daughter, Myrna, on Jan. 20, 1968. In addition to becoming a young husband, he openly accepted the role of father to Myrna’s three young children from previous marriages, raising them as his own and wearing the title of “Dad” with pride.
Over the years, he drove for several refuse companies, including M.J. Murphy, Connecticut Carting, Waste Management and Willimantic Waste Paper, hauling up and down the tri-state area in his steel stallions, his last being RO-27. This helped feed what we now believe to be a long-hidden dream of owning his very own hardware supply store. You see, Art lived by the motto, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” and amassed a collection that is called the basement. There wasn’t a spare part, tool or piece of equipment he didn’t have tucked away in his workshop. Twenty or so chainsaws (never know when you’ll need a spare part), buckets of nuts and bolts, lawn mowers, weed wackers and sets of wrenches and tools of all shapes and sizes. If you needed it, Art had it. Even if you didn’t know you needed it yet, you would someday, and he would still have it. He would descend to the depths of the basement for hours to tinker with this or that, leaving the TV unguarded and free to claim. That is, until someone tried changing the channel, at which point he would bellow up from the basement, “Hey, I’m listening to that.” Whether it was the Yankees, Giants or a NASCAR race, it was on and Art was listening to it from every possible corner of the house.
Art was a strong man of few words; however, when he spoke you would listen. Because he was sure to impart words of wisdom filled with dry humor and witty one-liners. A friend to many, he was a kind and gentle soul with the patience of a saint — a quality that his children jokingly admit they did not inherit.
Aside from his Candy Crush legacy and Facebook Memories, Arthur leaves behind a wealth of friends and family including his beloved wife Myrna (McNaughton) Chapman of Norwich; two children and three stepchildren, Arthur (Abe) B. Chapman Jr. of Norwich, Kimberly A. (Chapman) Boulay and her husband Mark of Norwich, Donna (Kilpatrick) Murphy and her husband Richard of Lebanon, Russell D. Chapman of Norwich, and Lori L. (Chapman) Gesselman and her husband Doug of Newport News, Va.; grandchildren, Russell Jr., Nathan, Jessica, Graig, William (Bud), Amanda, Tyler, Logan and Makenzie; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; brothers Lee of Groton, Kenneth of Waterford, Alan of Norwich, and Ronald of Preston; and sisters Jacklyn Dailey of Mystic and Carol Baker of Norwich. He was predeceased by his brothers Ralph, Robert, Lawrence, Gary and Warren; and his sisters Barbara Davis, Madeline Chapman and Betty Rowley.
In lieu of flowers and cards, please consider a donation to the nonprofit organization, Oceana, in honor of Arthur and his love of the ocean.