William Chapman

William Stanard Chapman passed away in his home in Stockton, California on Friday, August 19th at the age of 90. Bill loved spending time outsmarting the financial markets, talking politics with friends, reading history books, playing flamenco guitar, and telling stories about a lifetime spent traveling the world.

Bill was born in San Francisco and grew up visiting Pacific Beach, the Sutro Baths, and other Outer Sunset haunts. As a boy, he read books filled with tales of the South Pacific, which instilled in him a lifelong curiosity and wanderlust. In 1953, he graduated from University of the Pacific, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and married Diana Noble. After completing basic training at Quantico and artillery training in Texas, Bill had his first opportunity to travel across the Pacific Ocean when he and Diana were stationed in Japan for the first two years of their marriage.

Bill completed his active duty service and returned to Stockton in 1955 to begin a very successful career in the savings and loan industry. He worked with Diana’s father, Harold Noble, at San Joaquin First Federal, and during his long career there he worked his way up from teller to executive vice president before ultimately being appointed president in 1971. During his time at First Federal, Bill and Diana spent over 40 wonderful years together, and their only child, Sandy, was born in 1957. As a family, they spent many summers at the Noble family home in Inverness, as well as frequent sailing trips and races in Hawaii and Mexico.

Bill’s love of travel would only grow after his retirement at the age of 59 (a feat he was incredibly proud of), and he devoted all of his time to his two true loves: his family and his sailboat. As the captain of Bones VIII, his beloved Swan 47, Bill circumnavigated the globe twice. He and Diana visited countries all over the world and created life-long memories before her death from cancer in 2001. Shortly after, Bill married Angela Konig, and the journey around the globe continued as the two of them spent nearly two decades traveling across Europe, Asia, and his beloved South Pacific.

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Diana Chapman, as well as his daughter, Sandra Chapman Moran. He is survived by his wife Angela Chapman, his grandchildren Jeff Moran, Amy Shamus (Matt), Tyler Moran (Shelby), Shaun Moran, and his five great-grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery on Thursday, November 10th at 3:00 PM. On this day, Bill’s service in the US Marine Corps will be honored, and his remains will be interred next to those of his wife Diana and daughter Sandy.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.deyoungmemorialchapel.com for the Chapman family.