Niven Crawford Chapman, 89, of Damariscotta, passed away Jan. 4 at Winship Green in Bath, following a brief illness.
He was born in Waldoboro, on July 18, 1917, the son of Ralph Waldo Chapman and Flavilla Benson Jones. As a young boy, his family moved to Damariscotta, where he attended Castner School and Lincoln Academy.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Feb. 12 1941, had basic training at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod, Mass., and attended quartermaster school at Camp Lee, Va. in the class of 1942. He served for five years, including time in France. After military service, he returned to Damariscotta where he met Helen Winchenbach, whom he married in Newcastle on Dec. 11, 1948.
He was a union laborer who worked in construction all his working years for various contractors. He worked for Central Maine Power Co. and Cousins Island for many years. He later worked for Stone and Webster and helped build the Maine Yankee Atomic Plant in Wiscasset; he was one of the first employees hired. He retired in 1979.
He belonged to the American Legion, Waldoboro VFW, and the Laborers International Union.
He enjoyed his beautiful flower gardens, fishing, watching Red Sox games, and his daily crossword puzzle.
He was predeceased by his parents; son, Gregory Ralph; his twin, Marvin Childs Chapman; brothers, Harold and Gordon. He especially missed his two best friends, Frank Sidelinger and Calvin House.
He is survived by three sons, all of Damariscotta, Bruce, Jeffrey and Jonathan; daughters, Carol A. Simmons of Damariscotta, Paulette Chapman Goode of Boothbay, and Rhonda L. Chapman of Damariscotta; ten grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two nieces; and a special friend, Rebecca Malone of Damariscotta.
Memorial service will be held at a later date. He will be laid to rest at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.
Arrangements are under the care of Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
