Wendell Chapman

Wendell D. Chapman, 69, departed this life on Oct. 10th, 2019. He is preceded in death by his parents: Robert and Beulah Chapman, one brother Bobby Chapman and two special brothers in law: Ray Jones and KO Adams.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 52 years: Mollie, two daughters Dee Dee Stauss (Jeremy) and Amy Niemann (Jody). He has seven grandchildren: Emily Caughron (Brendan), Hannah Niemann (Chandler), Ty Lester, Joseph Niemann, Colby, Hannah and Megan Stauss. Siblings: Dorothy Moore, Odis Chapman (Louise), Emment Chapman (Virginia), Donald Chapman (Teresa), Carl Chapman (Paulette) and Kathleen Adams.

Wendell has been given many titles during his 69 years of life. He was a brother to six siblings, Odis, Carl, Emment, Donald, Kat, Dorothy and Bobby.  He was the baby brother to all of you, and to listen to the accumulated stories he used this to his advantage. He loved each and everyone of you. He was the uncle, Kip, Warren, Greg, Sandy, Sherry, Gary, Traci, Jeff, Clint, Kim, Robin, Karen, Beth, Rachel, Rebecca – each of you were like his own. He was the husband: Mollie – I do not think that anyone could ever say he didn’t love Mollie, he once told you that you were his backbone, yes, Mollie you were is backbone. Your support and love over the years helped him to become the great man that we all know and love today. He was a proud father to DeeDee and Amy. But all of his expectations were exceeded when his grandchildren were born. Emily, Hannah, Ty and Joseph. Then he was blessed with Colby, Hannah and Megan.

Wendell and Mollie started 1st grade together in 1956 at Scott Elementary School. By 7th grade they were going steady and remained high school sweethearts. In 1968, Mollie and Wendell graduated 1968, 14 day later they were married. In Sept of 1968, he joined the Army National Guard for six years. Wendell’s first great accomplishment was born in October of 1969, DeeDee. Two years later, he would again add to his accomplishments as Amy was born in October 1971. Shortly after, Wendell began farming with the Chapman Brothers. During his time farming, he enjoyed hunting and running dogs with his friends. It was during this time, that Wendell and the Chapman Brothers supported the American Agricultural Movement and went to Washington DC to protest for agriculture policy reform.  His love of baseball led him to participate as a coach and umpire for England’s Little League Baseball. Here he had many sons and touched many young boys lives. On Jan 12th, 1983, Wendell and Mollie bought the local bait shop, Tulls, and renamed it Scott One Stop. Here, Wendell, Mollie, DeeDee and Amy worked together for countless hours, daylight to dark but they were together. They supplied the farmers and duck hunters with breakfast and lunch, fishermen with bait and two lakes to fish. It was the local gossip shop. It was here that many friendships were started. This is the birthplace of Wendell’s humble beginning in the water industry. He became a Board Member from Pulaski County and was active in locating rural homesteads that were interested in obtaining city water to their rural homes. It was at this bait shop, that Wendell helped gather deposits to lay the groundwork for people to have city water. Wendell sold the store and began working for Young Construction and laid water lines in the upper 1/3 of the district. Arkansas Rural Water Distribution District became the largest rural water system in the United States at that time. When Grand Prairie System went into operation, Wendell hired on as one of the maintenance people, Area Supervisor, but within eight months, he was voted in as General Manager, a position he held for 28 years.

During his GM position, Wendell went on to accomplish many great things. One time, Amy went to him and told him that she was scared to be a nurse after she had just obtained his Nursing license. His reply: “Amy, you have been educated to take care of people – I only have a high school diploma and look how many people I take care of.”

Wendell served as:

Chairman and president of Arkansas Rural Water Association

President of Arkansas Water and Wastewater Managers Association

Has been awarded the Arkansas Rural Water Manager of the year Award in 1994

Arkansas Water Manger of the year in 1998

2nd Recepient of the HH Harvell Award

Major Accomplishment:  he was instrumental in the Building of Dale Bumper Rural Training Center in Lonoke, AR while serving on the Board of Ark Rural Water Assn for the past 12 years.

The Dale Bumpers Training Center in Lonoke is the only training center in the sought central US to offer training for water and wastewater for licensed operator and new operators. It was his hope that individuals form high school that cannot afford college or not interested in college can be trained and returned to their rural towns across the state of Arkansas to become licensed professional water and wastewater operators.

Wendell was active in all three of these organizations and the only individual that has served as chairman of all three. He looked forward to his yearly class of “attitude adjustment” with his bubbas. Mollie also looked forward to this time of year. He loved to cook, the comraderies’, card games, holla log fire pit, liars dice, casino and pizzmo. He made many friendships that he cherished.