Frederick Hughes Chapman, avid sailor
Frederick Hughes Chapman, 87, of Lewes, passed away in his sleep Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, at Harbor Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Lewes.
Fred was born in Wilmington, Dec.15, 1926, the son of Frederick Francis and Mary Hughes Chapman. He attended Wilmington Friends School through ninth grade and then attended Worcester Polytech prep school through 11th grade.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and served until the end of World War II. He then finished 12th grade and enrolled at the University of Delaware. He received his degree in chemical engineering in 1951. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.
He married Marjorie Ann Lumley in 1948. Fred, Marjorie and their infant daughter, Diana Lee, moved to Martinsville, Va., where he had been assigned by the DuPont Company. He was transferred to Seaford, then Kingston, N.C., and then back to Wilmington, with the DuPont Company. He then worked for Haveg Industries in Wilmington, Thiokol Company in Elkton, Md., and back again to DuPont Company in Glasgow.
Fred and Marjorie (his high school sweetheart) moved to Lewes, where he continued to operate his own business, Benchmark Technical Sales, through which he sold, serviced and produced fine instrument replacement parts for analytical devices. While in Lewes, he also opened a marine resale shop named Mariner’s Attic on Savannah Road to keep him close to the boating community.
Besides his family, Fred’s greatest love was sailing. Over the years he owned and enjoyed many unique boats from classic wooden hull sloops to fiberglass/wood trimarans to his final fiberglass hull Hunter 26. His family was delighted when he finally switched from wood to fiberglass hull boats which allowed them to spend more time sailing and less time making boat repairs in the spring.
It was a common sight to see him strolling about the local docks and boat yard in Lewes or hanging out at one of his favorite local shops having coffee or lunch with his many friends. Fred loved the town of Lewes and all the wonderful people that filled his busy days.
He is survived by his cherished former wife Marjorie; daughter Diana Lee Allred who resides at Fred’s longtime Lewes residence; son Richard L. Chapman of California; and daughter Jennifer L. Clark of Florida. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Jaime Leigh and Jennifer Lyn Allred and Jaclyn Suzanne and Justin Scott Clark. Fred has three surviving great-grandchildren: Braiden Allred, Brei Lund and Alex Lund. Also surviving are his sister Nancy Berl of Wilmington, and his brother Don Chapman of Atlanta, Ga. Fred was preceded in death by his son Frederick L. Chapman; and his sister Joan WIlhoit.
At Fred’s request, there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, Fred suggested donations to the LewesvPublic Library or the Delaware SPCA.
