March 14, 1950 - November 13, 2021
Deborah Chapman, age 71, passed away on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at McLaren St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee. She was born on March 14, 1950 in Bowling Green, Ohio, to Oscar and Virginia Retterer.
She was predeceased by her parents; and her brother, Oscar ("Skip"). She is survived by her sons, Caith (Jody), Brian, and Eric; and 5 grandchildren; her sister, Sherry and her husband, Tom Mortensen; Oscar's wife, Celeste, and their children, Claire, Ella, and Olivia; and former husband, George Chapman.
Deborah graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and subsequently received a Masters degree from the University of Chicago. She married George Chapman in 1973 and moved to Minneapolis in 1976 where Caith and Brian were born. They moved back to the Toledo area where Eric was born.
She was a wonderful mother whose greatest joys were her sons and grandchildren. She was also active in the community, including serving as a Docent at the Toledo Museum of Art and a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Maumee. She was also a member of the Toledo Country Club.
For the last several years of her life she battled cancer and other health challenges. Most recently she faced the ravages of COVID to which she eventually succumbed. Throughout this time, she lived selflessly with courage and grace.
Visitation for Deborah will be on November 18, 2021 from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker in Maumee. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee on Friday November 19, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Client Tolbert officiating.
Tributes can be made in Deborah's memory to the Toledo Museum of Art, First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, or the charity of donor's choice.
Arrangements by Mason-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home.
Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com.
Published by The Blade on Nov. 18, 2021.
**************************************************
By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer
Deborah Chapman, a teacher by profession who brought a spark to the community and arts causes for which she volunteered, died Saturday in McLaren St. Luke's Hospital, Maumee. She was 71.
She had coronavirus, her family said. She'd dealt with health problems the last several years, including cancer, "with grit and grace and determination," her son Brian said, "and was as selfless as she was the rest of her life."
A Maumee resident and a longtime deacon of First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, Ms. Chapman had been a Toledo Museum of Art ambassador sustainer. She also was a docent sustainer, guiding groups of all ages through the museum.
"In 1998, she was in a class of docents that I trained," said Susan Palmer, a museum board member who is a former development director and a former docent educator. "I got to see her bright mind."
Other docents in training audited a University of Toledo art-history course. Ms. Chapman took the course for credit - and got an A, Mrs. Palmer said.
"She really enjoyed learning about the art and how to engage with audiences, and that was a great strength of hers," Mrs. Palmer said. "She was able to ask questions that opened people's eyes, and she was able to lead them through works of art, so children and adults came up with answers on their own.
"She had a twinkle in her eye children loved. They loved being with her, because she captured their imagination," she said. "She was a delight. She was charming and elegant, always beautifully dressed."
Ms. Chapman, before marriage and children, taught French at Maumee Valley Country Day School. Later she taught French as a parent volunteer at Westside Montessori Center.
"If she said she would do something, she would follow through," said Margy Trumbull, who became a friend decades ago when both were parents of Westside students. Ms. Chapman was on Mrs. Trumbull's membership team at the museum and served as a trustee of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, in which Mrs. Trumbull was active.
"She was an incredible asset to any event she was on," Mrs. Trumbull said. The pair also were travel companions on museum trips, including to New York and Australia.
"She was fun. She was adventuresome," Mrs. Trumbull said. "She was agreeable and had good ideas of her own."
When her sons were young, Ms. Chapman stayed home to care for them. They became student athletes who took part in every sport, son Brian said.
"She was wired to be a mother," he said. "She was in bleachers half her life. It's clear to me she could have done whatever she wanted. She always put us first and the family first."
Born March 14, 1950, in Bowling Green to Virginia and Oscar Retterer, she graduated Bowling Green High School and received a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University. She received a master's degree in French from the University of Chicago.
She was a founder of a wellness center in Maumee. She had an eye for interior design and helped friends, including Mrs. Trumbull, with home projects.
She was a member of Toledo Country Club.
She was formerly married to George Chapman.
Surviving are her sons, Caith, Brian, and Eric Chapman; sister, Sherry Mortenson, and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker, Maumee; Memorial services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee.
The family suggests tributes to the Toledo Museum of Art; First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, or a charity of the donor's choice.
Published by The Blade on Nov. 18, 2021.
Deborah Chapman, age 71, passed away on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at McLaren St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee. She was born on March 14, 1950 in Bowling Green, Ohio, to Oscar and Virginia Retterer.
She was predeceased by her parents; and her brother, Oscar ("Skip"). She is survived by her sons, Caith (Jody), Brian, and Eric; and 5 grandchildren; her sister, Sherry and her husband, Tom Mortensen; Oscar's wife, Celeste, and their children, Claire, Ella, and Olivia; and former husband, George Chapman.
Deborah graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and subsequently received a Masters degree from the University of Chicago. She married George Chapman in 1973 and moved to Minneapolis in 1976 where Caith and Brian were born. They moved back to the Toledo area where Eric was born.
She was a wonderful mother whose greatest joys were her sons and grandchildren. She was also active in the community, including serving as a Docent at the Toledo Museum of Art and a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Maumee. She was also a member of the Toledo Country Club.
For the last several years of her life she battled cancer and other health challenges. Most recently she faced the ravages of COVID to which she eventually succumbed. Throughout this time, she lived selflessly with courage and grace.
Visitation for Deborah will be on November 18, 2021 from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker in Maumee. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee on Friday November 19, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Client Tolbert officiating.
Tributes can be made in Deborah's memory to the Toledo Museum of Art, First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, or the charity of donor's choice.
Arrangements by Mason-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home.
Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com.
Published by The Blade on Nov. 18, 2021.
**************************************************
By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer
Deborah Chapman, a teacher by profession who brought a spark to the community and arts causes for which she volunteered, died Saturday in McLaren St. Luke's Hospital, Maumee. She was 71.
She had coronavirus, her family said. She'd dealt with health problems the last several years, including cancer, "with grit and grace and determination," her son Brian said, "and was as selfless as she was the rest of her life."
A Maumee resident and a longtime deacon of First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, Ms. Chapman had been a Toledo Museum of Art ambassador sustainer. She also was a docent sustainer, guiding groups of all ages through the museum.
"In 1998, she was in a class of docents that I trained," said Susan Palmer, a museum board member who is a former development director and a former docent educator. "I got to see her bright mind."
Other docents in training audited a University of Toledo art-history course. Ms. Chapman took the course for credit - and got an A, Mrs. Palmer said.
"She really enjoyed learning about the art and how to engage with audiences, and that was a great strength of hers," Mrs. Palmer said. "She was able to ask questions that opened people's eyes, and she was able to lead them through works of art, so children and adults came up with answers on their own.
"She had a twinkle in her eye children loved. They loved being with her, because she captured their imagination," she said. "She was a delight. She was charming and elegant, always beautifully dressed."
Ms. Chapman, before marriage and children, taught French at Maumee Valley Country Day School. Later she taught French as a parent volunteer at Westside Montessori Center.
"If she said she would do something, she would follow through," said Margy Trumbull, who became a friend decades ago when both were parents of Westside students. Ms. Chapman was on Mrs. Trumbull's membership team at the museum and served as a trustee of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, in which Mrs. Trumbull was active.
"She was an incredible asset to any event she was on," Mrs. Trumbull said. The pair also were travel companions on museum trips, including to New York and Australia.
"She was fun. She was adventuresome," Mrs. Trumbull said. "She was agreeable and had good ideas of her own."
When her sons were young, Ms. Chapman stayed home to care for them. They became student athletes who took part in every sport, son Brian said.
"She was wired to be a mother," he said. "She was in bleachers half her life. It's clear to me she could have done whatever she wanted. She always put us first and the family first."
Born March 14, 1950, in Bowling Green to Virginia and Oscar Retterer, she graduated Bowling Green High School and received a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University. She received a master's degree in French from the University of Chicago.
She was a founder of a wellness center in Maumee. She had an eye for interior design and helped friends, including Mrs. Trumbull, with home projects.
She was a member of Toledo Country Club.
She was formerly married to George Chapman.
Surviving are her sons, Caith, Brian, and Eric Chapman; sister, Sherry Mortenson, and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker, Maumee; Memorial services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee.
The family suggests tributes to the Toledo Museum of Art; First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, or a charity of the donor's choice.
Published by The Blade on Nov. 18, 2021.
March 14, 1950 - November 13, 2021
Deborah Chapman, age 71, passed away on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at McLaren St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee. She was born on March 14, 1950 in Bowling Green, Ohio, to Oscar and Virginia Retterer.
She was predeceased by her parents; and her brother, Oscar ("Skip"). She is survived by her sons, Caith (Jody), Brian, and Eric; and 5 grandchildren; her sister, Sherry and her husband, Tom Mortensen; Oscar's wife, Celeste, and their children, Claire, Ella, and Olivia; and former husband, George Chapman.
Deborah graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and subsequently received a Masters degree from the University of Chicago. She married George Chapman in 1973 and moved to Minneapolis in 1976 where Caith and Brian were born. They moved back to the Toledo area where Eric was born.
She was a wonderful mother whose greatest joys were her sons and grandchildren. She was also active in the community, including serving as a Docent at the Toledo Museum of Art and a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Maumee. She was also a member of the Toledo Country Club.
For the last several years of her life she battled cancer and other health challenges. Most recently she faced the ravages of COVID to which she eventually succumbed. Throughout this time, she lived selflessly with courage and grace.
Visitation for Deborah will be on November 18, 2021 from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker in Maumee. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee on Friday November 19, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Client Tolbert officiating.
Tributes can be made in Deborah's memory to the Toledo Museum of Art, First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, or the charity of donor's choice.
Arrangements by Mason-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home.
Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com.
Published by The Blade on Nov. 18, 2021.
**************************************************
By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer
Deborah Chapman, a teacher by profession who brought a spark to the community and arts causes for which she volunteered, died Saturday in McLaren St. Luke's Hospital, Maumee. She was 71.
She had coronavirus, her family said. She'd dealt with health problems the last several years, including cancer, "with grit and grace and determination," her son Brian said, "and was as selfless as she was the rest of her life."
A Maumee resident and a longtime deacon of First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, Ms. Chapman had been a Toledo Museum of Art ambassador sustainer. She also was a docent sustainer, guiding groups of all ages through the museum.
"In 1998, she was in a class of docents that I trained," said Susan Palmer, a museum board member who is a former development director and a former docent educator. "I got to see her bright mind."
Other docents in training audited a University of Toledo art-history course. Ms. Chapman took the course for credit - and got an A, Mrs. Palmer said.
"She really enjoyed learning about the art and how to engage with audiences, and that was a great strength of hers," Mrs. Palmer said. "She was able to ask questions that opened people's eyes, and she was able to lead them through works of art, so children and adults came up with answers on their own.
"She had a twinkle in her eye children loved. They loved being with her, because she captured their imagination," she said. "She was a delight. She was charming and elegant, always beautifully dressed."
Ms. Chapman, before marriage and children, taught French at Maumee Valley Country Day School. Later she taught French as a parent volunteer at Westside Montessori Center.
"If she said she would do something, she would follow through," said Margy Trumbull, who became a friend decades ago when both were parents of Westside students. Ms. Chapman was on Mrs. Trumbull's membership team at the museum and served as a trustee of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, in which Mrs. Trumbull was active.
"She was an incredible asset to any event she was on," Mrs. Trumbull said. The pair also were travel companions on museum trips, including to New York and Australia.
"She was fun. She was adventuresome," Mrs. Trumbull said. "She was agreeable and had good ideas of her own."
When her sons were young, Ms. Chapman stayed home to care for them. They became student athletes who took part in every sport, son Brian said.
"She was wired to be a mother," he said. "She was in bleachers half her life. It's clear to me she could have done whatever she wanted. She always put us first and the family first."
Born March 14, 1950, in Bowling Green to Virginia and Oscar Retterer, she graduated Bowling Green High School and received a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University. She received a master's degree in French from the University of Chicago.
She was a founder of a wellness center in Maumee. She had an eye for interior design and helped friends, including Mrs. Trumbull, with home projects.
She was a member of Toledo Country Club.
She was formerly married to George Chapman.
Surviving are her sons, Caith, Brian, and Eric Chapman; sister, Sherry Mortenson, and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker, Maumee; Memorial services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee.
The family suggests tributes to the Toledo Museum of Art; First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, or a charity of the donor's choice.
Published by The Blade on Nov. 18, 2021.
Deborah Chapman, age 71, passed away on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at McLaren St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee. She was born on March 14, 1950 in Bowling Green, Ohio, to Oscar and Virginia Retterer.
She was predeceased by her parents; and her brother, Oscar ("Skip"). She is survived by her sons, Caith (Jody), Brian, and Eric; and 5 grandchildren; her sister, Sherry and her husband, Tom Mortensen; Oscar's wife, Celeste, and their children, Claire, Ella, and Olivia; and former husband, George Chapman.
Deborah graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and subsequently received a Masters degree from the University of Chicago. She married George Chapman in 1973 and moved to Minneapolis in 1976 where Caith and Brian were born. They moved back to the Toledo area where Eric was born.
She was a wonderful mother whose greatest joys were her sons and grandchildren. She was also active in the community, including serving as a Docent at the Toledo Museum of Art and a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Maumee. She was also a member of the Toledo Country Club.
For the last several years of her life she battled cancer and other health challenges. Most recently she faced the ravages of COVID to which she eventually succumbed. Throughout this time, she lived selflessly with courage and grace.
Visitation for Deborah will be on November 18, 2021 from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker in Maumee. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee on Friday November 19, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Client Tolbert officiating.
Tributes can be made in Deborah's memory to the Toledo Museum of Art, First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, or the charity of donor's choice.
Arrangements by Mason-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home.
Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com.
Published by The Blade on Nov. 18, 2021.
**************************************************
By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer
Deborah Chapman, a teacher by profession who brought a spark to the community and arts causes for which she volunteered, died Saturday in McLaren St. Luke's Hospital, Maumee. She was 71.
She had coronavirus, her family said. She'd dealt with health problems the last several years, including cancer, "with grit and grace and determination," her son Brian said, "and was as selfless as she was the rest of her life."
A Maumee resident and a longtime deacon of First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, Ms. Chapman had been a Toledo Museum of Art ambassador sustainer. She also was a docent sustainer, guiding groups of all ages through the museum.
"In 1998, she was in a class of docents that I trained," said Susan Palmer, a museum board member who is a former development director and a former docent educator. "I got to see her bright mind."
Other docents in training audited a University of Toledo art-history course. Ms. Chapman took the course for credit - and got an A, Mrs. Palmer said.
"She really enjoyed learning about the art and how to engage with audiences, and that was a great strength of hers," Mrs. Palmer said. "She was able to ask questions that opened people's eyes, and she was able to lead them through works of art, so children and adults came up with answers on their own.
"She had a twinkle in her eye children loved. They loved being with her, because she captured their imagination," she said. "She was a delight. She was charming and elegant, always beautifully dressed."
Ms. Chapman, before marriage and children, taught French at Maumee Valley Country Day School. Later she taught French as a parent volunteer at Westside Montessori Center.
"If she said she would do something, she would follow through," said Margy Trumbull, who became a friend decades ago when both were parents of Westside students. Ms. Chapman was on Mrs. Trumbull's membership team at the museum and served as a trustee of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, in which Mrs. Trumbull was active.
"She was an incredible asset to any event she was on," Mrs. Trumbull said. The pair also were travel companions on museum trips, including to New York and Australia.
"She was fun. She was adventuresome," Mrs. Trumbull said. "She was agreeable and had good ideas of her own."
When her sons were young, Ms. Chapman stayed home to care for them. They became student athletes who took part in every sport, son Brian said.
"She was wired to be a mother," he said. "She was in bleachers half her life. It's clear to me she could have done whatever she wanted. She always put us first and the family first."
Born March 14, 1950, in Bowling Green to Virginia and Oscar Retterer, she graduated Bowling Green High School and received a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University. She received a master's degree in French from the University of Chicago.
She was a founder of a wellness center in Maumee. She had an eye for interior design and helped friends, including Mrs. Trumbull, with home projects.
She was a member of Toledo Country Club.
She was formerly married to George Chapman.
Surviving are her sons, Caith, Brian, and Eric Chapman; sister, Sherry Mortenson, and five grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker, Maumee; Memorial services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee.
The family suggests tributes to the Toledo Museum of Art; First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, or a charity of the donor's choice.
Published by The Blade on Nov. 18, 2021.
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