Dora Jane (Adkins) Chapman, 97, joined her loved ones in Heaven on Sept. 24, 2015. Her final days were spent surrounded by family and friends whom Dora had touched in some kind way throughout her long and very memorable life.
Dora resided in Clendenin since 1963. After her husband's death, she lived a happy independent life until the last few days before her passing of a massive stroke on September 24, in Charleston General Hospital.
Dora was born on Lilly's Fork of Buffalo, Clay, on June 16, 1918. She was preceded in death by her loving and hard-working husband, Coleman Chapman. They met and married in Clay, in 1943 and had 26 loving years together. After his passing, she remained his devoted loving widow until the end.
Dora was the daughter of the late Samuel Adkins and Fannie (Dotson) Adkins of Lilly's Fork of Buffalo, Clay. She was preceded in death by five sisters, Icy Adkins, Ivy Maysel Adkins, Lola Adkins, Alice Stephenson, and Beulah Mullins; two brothers, Hobert and Newman Adkins; three half sisters, Bessie (Adkins) Miller, Virgie (Adkins) Griffin, Georgia (Adkins) Elswick, Stephenson; and one half brother, Jesse Adkins.
Dora is survived by four children, Iris McDaniel (husband, Philip) W.Va., Alan Chapman (wife, Mary) Ripley, Sharon Patton (husband, Louie) Clendenin, and Samuel Chapman (wife, Teresa) Clendenin; nine grandchildren, Gregory McDaniel, Cindy Chapman, Alan Chapman, Jr., Kevin Patton, Tamra Patton-Lott, Jamie Patton, Michael Patton, Samuel Coleman Chapman and Kelley Chapman; and one step-grandchild, Wayne Smith; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She is survived by two beautiful sisters, Ruby Woods of Lockwood and Zora Hall of Maysel.
Dora was a graduate of American High School and throughout her entire life she traveled and read to become an educator and teacher to her four children and many grandchildren. Her teaching was most often through stories and examples, now an integral part of so many loved ones' memories.
Dora was artistic and creative. She was wise, talented and enthralling story teller, as well as an incredibly strong and loving person. She played the guitar, autoharp, mandolin and banjo and sang with her children in church, as the Chapman Family Singers and performed in many WV counties. And later, she performed at the West Virginia Vandalia Gatherings and while traveling with Cabin Creek Quilts, where she would perform musically and demonstrate the art of quilting. Dora quilted until the last few years of her life. She generously gave many of her beautiful quilt creations to family and friends; and, the beauty and intricate detail of those and all that she kept treasured, are a testament to the hard work and care of a true artist.
Dora loved to travel. She visited other countries, including Panama and Mexico, many U.S. states, including Hawaii, California, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and many, many more. She delighted in collecting postal cards from each state and treasured souvenirs from most.
Service will be held 1 p.m. Mon. Sept. 28, at Hafer Funeral Home, Elkview, with Rev. Kenneth Adkins officiating. Viewing will be from noon until 1 p.m. She will be interred in the Cunningham Memorial Cemetery, St. Albans, WV beside her loving husband.
Online condolences may be sent to www.haferfuneralhome.net. Hafer Funeral Home, 50 N. Pinch Road, Elkview, WV is assisting the Chapman family with arrangements.