EVELYN DOROTHY CHAPMAN

DAVIDSVILLE, Pa. — Evelyn Dorothy Chapman, 97, passed away peacefully on Dec. 16, 2024, at Laurel View Village, Davidsville, Pa., after a long and wonderful life. She formerly lived in both Addison and Middlebury, Vt.

She was born Aug. 18, 1927, in Derby, Conn., to Edward and Phyllis Gray. She grew up in Norwich, Conn., attending Norwich Free Academy and the University of Connecticut briefly. She married her high school sweetheart, Charles Billings Chapman, and raised a family in Glastonbury Conn., in a house he designed.

She was active in her community in Glastonbury as a leader of the Hebron Avenue School PTA and as an active member of the Glastonbury Garden Club and St. James Episcopal Church. For many years, she worked as the swimming director at the Girl Scout day camp in Glastonbury and also taught swimming at the YWCA in Hartford, Conn. Evelyn encouraged her children to pursue music, sports and other activities in addition to their academic studies. As her children grew, she began a career as a school bus driver (an unusual occupation for a woman in those days) for the town of Glastonbury, until she retired.

For many years, Evelyn spent summers in Addison, Vt., enjoying visits from family and friends as well as tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. She and Charlie retired to Addison, Vt., spending time sailing on Lake Champlain, canal boating on the Erie Canal, traveling across the U.S. and Canada by train, and went on a visit to Russia. In their later years, they moved to Eastview in Middlebury, Vt.

As she made Addison her home, she was a member of the Addison Town Historical Society, serving as treasurer for many years. She was a lifetime member of the Middlebury Garden Club, and an active member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church on the Green in Middlebury.

Evelyn is survived by her sister, Phyllis Ann Catuccio of Syracuse, N.Y.; her children, Steven E, Chapman and wife Linda of Apache Junction, Ariz., Tamzen E. Chapman and husband Raymond Prendergast of Addison, Vt., and Cheryl L. Lincoln and husband Robert of Bedford Pa. She will be missed by her six grandchildren, Vinnessa Chapman-Hopson, Cathleen Hartman, Jared Chapman, Robert C. Lincoln, Kyle Prendergast, and Colleen Prendergast; 13 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her cherished husband, Charlie, and youngest sister Nancy Dills.

A private burial service for family will be arranged in the spring or summer. Please consider a donation in her memory to St. Stephens Episcopal Church on the Green, 3 Main St., Middlebury, Vt., 05753; the Addison Town Historical Society, c/o Geoffrey Nelson, 7214 Route 17W Addison, VT 05491; or to Laurel View Village, 2000 Cambridge Dr., Davidsville, Pa., 15928, where she received excellent care at the end of her life. Online condolences may be made at www.georgemasonfuneralhome.com.◊