Marilyn Mangney Chapman, age 91, died peacefully Feb. 22, 2016 in Houston. A former Darien resident, she was active in Presbyterian organizations.
Former Darien resident Marilyn Chapman, 91, died Feb. 22 in Houston.
Born July 28, 1924 to Elmer J. and Helen Mangney in Minneapolis, Marilyn grew up in that city and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in home economics.
She soon moved to Mullin, Tex. where she taught grade school for a year. Returning to Minneapolis she taught at the School for the Blind and then changed careers and spent three years as a flight attendant for TWA Airlines.
She then moved to Tulsa, Okla., where she was a home service representative for the Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., calling on customers and appearing in TV cooking demonstrations. She eventually returned to teaching and taught home economics at Tulsa’s Edison Junior High School.
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— A version of this obituary previously was published in the Houston Chronicle.
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In Tulsa Marilyn met the love of her life, Bob Chapman. They were married in 1957 and had 58 wonderful years together. Though both were born in Minneapolis, they didn’t meet until they were in Oklahoma. After marrying Bob, Marilyn traded her work career for one of family, volunteering, traveling and other activities. After Tulsa, they lived in Darien and then Houston when Bob’s work took them there.
Marilyn was a caring, loving, energetic, determined, organized and righteous person. She wanted to help people and would step in whenever she saw a need. Whether caring for family, starting an adult Sunday school class, tutoring students or volunteering at the polls, she was always helping others.
Together with Bob she was an officer in several Presbyterian Church organizations in Darien and Houston and in Houston’s Thalia Dance Club. She and Bob also established an endowed scholarship at the University of Minnesota College of Sciences and Engineering honoring her parents.
Marilyn was devoted to family and took great joy in staying connected with relatives all over the country. She started and promoted many successful family reunions. She helped countless relatives over her lifetime and loved celebrating with family throughout the years.
Marilyn enjoyed ice skating, downhill skiing, golf, tennis, and swimming. She was an avid reader and was in book clubs where she lived. She loved traveling and, with Bob, visited all seven continents and all 50 U.S. states. She has left a lasting legacy with family and friends, and she will be sorely missed.
She is survived by her loving husband, Robert (Bob) Chapman, daughter Jeanne Anne and her husband, John Kenyon; brother Robley Mangney and wife Gerry; brother-in-law Robert Gunville; and many nieces and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15 in the Chapel at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77024, followed by a reception in the Church Parlor. Rev. Rick Meyers will officiate.
A private burial will precede the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church; the Elmer J. And Helen Evans Mangney Endowed Scholarship Fund in the College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota Foundation, 200 Oak St., S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; or to a charity of your choice.