Wallace H. Chaplin Sr.

Wallace H. (Chappy) Chaplin, 92, died December 21, 2009 at Blue Ridge Healthcare Center, Raleigh, NC following several years of declining health. He was the husband of the late Dorothy May (Cushing) Chaplin.

He was born on July 22, 1917 in Lowell, MA, the son of the late William F. and Miriam (Midgley) Chaplin. He graduated from Lowell High School and began work with the Boston and Maine (B&M) Railroad as an Apprentice Machinist. He retired from the B&M as Vice-President, Mechanical after 40 years of service. After retirement he performed several consulting engineering services for Seelye Stevenson Value & Knecht, Inc., Sanders & Thomas Inc., and Thomas K. Dyer, Inc.

Chappy served on various committees for the Locomotive Maintenance Officers Association and was a voting member of the American Association of Railroads, Vice President of the New England Railroad Club, and an Honorary Life member of the Knights of Columbus. He served 4 years on the Board of Directors of the Fairway Village Association in Largo, FL. He enjoyed dancing, golfing, traveling and family, especially his grand children and great grand children. He was a long time member of St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, Lowell, MA and St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Largo, FL. Most recently he was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Raleigh, NC.

He is survived by a son, Wallace H. Chaplin, Jr. and wife Patricia (Kmiec) of Fuquay Varina, NC; a daughter, Beverly M. Bostwick and husband Warren of Lowell, MA; nine grandchildren, Marcia (Chaplin) Buie and husband Scott of Clifton, VA, Brenda (Chaplin) LaRouche and husband John of Attleboro Falls, MA, Kim (Chaplin) Vildibill and husband Jeff of Poway, CA, Eric Chaplin and wife Gwen of Raleigh, NC, Susan (Bostwick) Hawkins and husband David of Haverhill, MA, Warren Bostwick, III and wife Karen of Lowell, MA, Michael Bostwick and wife Amy of Dracut, MA, Stephen Bostwick and wife Amber of Dracut, MA and Nancy Bostwick of Lowell, MA; eleven great grandchildren; sister-in-law Dolores Chaplin of Dracut, MA; brother-in-law Benjamin A. (Bud) Cushing and his wife Jean of Lodi, CA; many nieces and nephews; and good friend Mary Heffron of Largo, FL. He was also the brother of the late William M. Chaplin and the late Edward R. Chaplin.

The family would like to thank the staff at Blue Ridge Healthcare Center, Raleigh, NC for the kindness, care and respect that they showed Chappy during his stay there.

A Memorial Service and Internment will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary’s St., Suite 400, Raleigh, NC 27605.