Robert "Bob" Chapin

Robert 'Bob' F. Chapin\r\nMattoon-Robert 'Bob' F. Chapin, age 83, of Mattoon, Illinois, formerly of Safety Harbor, Florida and Carlinville, Illinois, passed away at 3:55 p.m., Monday, May 4, 2009, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois. \r\nThe funeral service in his honor will begin at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 8, 2009, at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home with Reverend James Rhea officiating. Interment will be in Zion Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Military rites will be conducted by the Mattoon VFW Post 4325. \r\nMr. Chapin was born July 6, 1925, in Carlinville, Illinois, the son of Maynard and Alva M. (Robson) Chapin. He was first married to Marilyn Young who passed away in 1974. He later married Maxine E. (Mayhew) Baughman Bell Chapin on December 28, 1976 in Mattoon. She survives. Other survivors include his children: Mark Robert Chapin and wife Angela of Branson, Missouri; Janice Strawser and husband Bob of Heyworth, Illinois; Debra Graham of Clovis, California; step-children: Bob Baughman and wife Colleeen of Dietrich, Illinois; William H. Bell and wife Jill of Mattoon, Illinois; Jim A. Bell and wife Joyce of Mattoon, Illinois; Steve F. Bell and wife Cinda of Bridgeport, Illinois; and Doug W. Bell and wife Andrea of Mattoon, Illinois; one brother, Max Chapin and wife Ada of Albion, Illinois; and one sister, Shirley Bierman of St. Louis, Missouri. He leaves four grandchildren, nine grandchildren, and ten step grandchildren. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his mother when he was only two years of age, his father, step-mother, one sister, and one step-child. \r\nMr. Chapin was educated in the Carlinville school system and graduated from Carlinville High School in 1942. He served our country with the United States Naval Airforce from 1943 to 1946. Bob loved sports, particularly baseball, and chess. While he was serving in Hawaii, Bob pitched a no hit game. He was also Chess Champion for seven years in the Peoria Open Class Games. Bob was a lifetime member of the American Legion and V.F.W., was on the Civil Defense Team, and was a member of the National Chess Club. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Carlinville and attended Blackburn College followed by Weslyn University and graduated June 5, 1950. He worked as an auditor for the State of Illinois until his retirement in 1990 when he and his wife Maxine moved to Florida and resided for 15 years. In December of 2003, they returned to be closer to their families.\r\nIn lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association Greater Illinois Chapter, 8430 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 800, Chicago,IL 60631, or Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA),706 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002, or American Diabetes Association, P O Box 2680, North Canton, OH, 44720. \r\nPlease visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with the family. \r\n

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Robert "Bob" Chapin

July 6, 2025 - May 4, 2009