As a 1939 graduate of Broadway High School in Seattle’s Capitol Hill district, Mel worked for Boeing Aircraft Co. until 1940 when he enrolled at the College of Engineering at University of Washington and was soon accepted into the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) as Midshipman. By June 1943 he was commissioned as Ensign and designated a Navy aviator.
Mel’s WWII combat duty began July 1944 in the Western Pacific while assigned with Bombing Squadron 19 (VB-19) onboard the USS Lexington (CVA-16). As lieutenant (JG), Mel was awarded a Navy Cross for his “extraordinary heroism” during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. By war’s end, Mel had been transferred from Navy Reserve to ‘regular’ Navy.
As a full lieutenant in 1947, Mel was one of the first to pioneer the Navy’s use of jet aircraft, the McDonnell FD-1, Phantom, while assigned to the Navy Dept’s Bureau of Aeronautics in Washington D.C.
In 1949, Mel married Dorothy E. Turner and temporarily relocated to Jacksonville Beach FL where in 1950, their son was born. Mel earned a BA degree in political science by 1953. In 1956, Dorothy gave birth to their daughter while stationed in Coronado CA. Many Navy reassignments demanded numerous relocations for his family over the course of Mel’s career. Later stationed in 1966 as a full Navy commander, Mel retired after 24 years of service, moving his family to Seattle to begin a new career with Boeing Aircraft Co. as a flight instructor. During that time, he and his wife had a house built to their specifications in Sheridan Beach. But by 1969, Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer, to which her battle was eventually lost in 1983. As a widower, Mel soon retired from Boeing after 17 years of service.
Mel’s later interests were tutoring math to individual high school students at a local library, prolific reading, and learning calculus; while also taking a trip to Europe and many national excursions to visit friends and relatives. Mel’s last home was at Merrill-Gardens in Kirkland WA. His final resting place is at Acacia Memorial Park alongside his loving wife.
Mel is survived by his son, Mark, his daughter, Deborah, with her husband, Rod; two granddaughters: Rachel, Monica with her husband David, and Mel’s great-grandson, Jackson.
If you would like to make a donation in memory of Mel Chapman, please contact World Vision at: 888-511-6519
(use source code: 105429531).
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