Earline Chapman Dal Porto

1926 - 2023

Earline Chapman Dal Porto was born on February 4, 1926, in Coody's Bluff, Oklahoma to Felix and Viola Long. She grew up there with her three sisters, Maxine Adams, Wanda Long and Patricia Casey. In the summer of 1942, the Long family migrated to California, settling in Brentwood, first staying at the Davis Auto Camp known for welcoming folks from Oklahoma. Earline attended Liberty High School where she graduated in 1943 with honors. One of her first jobs in Brentwood was working at the local post office alongside "Stoney" Stonebarger. Outside the post office is where she first met Joe Chapman, who she later married in March of 1944. Together they had three children Vickie Del Colletti, Dennis Chapman (Barbara), and Denise McClune (Randall). Tragedy struck when she was widowed by her beloved husband, Joe, at the early age of thirty-three. However, instead of succumbing to the grief, Earline displayed her incredible resilience and took on the role of owner-operator of Brentwood Ford Motors breaking barriers and proving that women could run successful car dealerships too. Earline continued to try her hand at various endeavors. She sold and invested in real estate, mobile home sales and even owned women's clothing stores. She continued to sell cars even after selling the dealership to Bill Brandt in 1972. Her favorite activities included the love of golf and was always a competitive player. During her few years of living in Aptos, she was active in the Seascape Women's Golf Club, winning many tournaments. After returning to Brentwood, she was instrumental in establishing the Discovery Bay Women's Golf Club. She was honored in 2021 for being the first team captain and winning the tournament. She continued to play golf well into her 80's. One of her other joys in life were the "girls' trips" with family. They traveled from San Francisco to Mexico, London, and Hawaii, which was her favorite. After being widowed for thirty years she fell in love and married Robert A. Dal Porto, Sr in September of 1990. They enjoyed many years of traveling and family reunions. She was predeceased by Robert in 2015, her sisters Wanda Long and Maxine Adams. Earline is survived by her three children Vickie, Dennis, and Denise and her sister Patricia Casey. She is also survived by her four grandchildren Andrea Del Colletti, Joe Del Colletti (Janee'), Raina Chapman, and Jennifer Chapman along with three great-grandchildren Ashley, Lindsey and Zaida and niece Karen Mancuso (John), nephews Mike Casey (Roxanne) and Mark Casey (Gina). Due to a family illness, services will be postponed until a future date can be arranged.