Pledger Willard Chapman

by Lynn McMillen
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 Pledger Willard Chapman
DECEMBER 1, 1933 ~ JUNE 30, 2019 (AGE 85)

Pledger was born on December the 1st 1933. He earned his wings on June 30, 2019 and went on ahead to be with his mother, father, six brothers, two sisters and many family members and friends.

Pledger leaves behind his loving wife of sixty three years and his four children Melody (Philip Ludwick), Rhonda (Delruss Wolff), Chis (Tammy Hawkins), and Tobin (Becky Webb). He is also survived by his ten grand children Kameron (Amanda) Popkey, Kyle (Karin) Popkey, Kain Popkey, Tamar (Kevin) Murphy, Seth Wolff, Joshua (Shelby) Wolff, Tina (Shane) Hardin, Christopher (Denise) Chapman, Amanda Chapman, Sara Chapman and 22 Great Grand Children. He is also survived by sister and brother in laws and many nieces and nephews.
Pledger was born in North Carolina where his father was the supervisor of a coal mine. He later moved with his family to Ypsilanti Michigan where his father got a job at the Willow Run Bomber Plant during WWII. When Pledger was 17 he got into some trouble at school. He was kicked out and didn’t want his Dad to know, so he forged his dad’s signature and join the Air Force. After Pledger’s Air Force service was complete he got a job at the GM plant where he met Betty during the annual open house. She hated his arrogant attitude at first but soon grew to love him because of his persistence. They married and settled into life in Ypsilanti where they raised their four children. Betty was a beautician and Pledger as a real jack of all trades. He was a masonry, roofer, carpenter, owned Chapman’s Fencing and was a garbage man. Melody had a little trouble staying away from the wrong crowd in high school so Betty and Pledger moved the family to Manchester Michigan. In Manchester It took Mel all of three days to find the same crowd, but she still turned out pretty good. Carpenter seemed to be Pledger’s strong point so he continued that line of work when he moved with his wife and two sons to Huntsville Alabama due to a job transfer for Betty at Chrysler. Pledger retired from the Carpentry business only to open a new business a few years later, Pledger’s Pallets. It was a huge success and brought him a lot of joy as well as good employment for his two sons a nephew and his grandson. While Pledger was growing up in North Carolina he attended a revival meeting of a young up and coming evangelist Billy Graham. He recalls going down the aisle and accepting Christ as his savior at that meeting. He also had a visit from his pastor Jimmy Jackson of Whitesburg Baptist Church, where he made sure of his salvation during his retirement. Pledger lived a very full life and was an amazing husband, father and grandfather. He was never happier than when he was playing with his grandchildren and will be missed by all 10 of his grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Spry Funeral Home on Friday, July 5, 2019 from 4:00pm until 6:00pm. Funeral Services will follow the visitation at 6:00pm in the Spry Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will take place at Union- Udell Cemetery in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan.

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