Richard "Dick" Chapin

Richard Louis "Dick" Chapin passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, July 7, 2024 at age 92.

Richard was a lifelong resident of Gulfport, MS, as were his parents and grandparents. He is survived by his loving wife, Martha Hendrick Chapin, also from Gulfport. They were married 67 years and had four daughters, Ellen Coleman (Grant) of New Orleans, Frances Ladner (James) of Gulfport, Mary Catherine "KK" Hearin (John O.) of Fairhope, AL, and Mary Elizabeth "Liz" McLarty (Richie) of Bluffton, SC. He had twelve grandchildren, who loved their "Papaw" dearly, Annabel and Will Coleman, Jake (Laurin), Kyle (Paige), Mack, Emma (Clayton) and Luke Ladner; Jack, Sam and Thomas Hearin, and Grace and Lily McLarty. He also had three great grandchildren, Bayley Cassibry, RosieLynn Ladner and Asher Ladner. He is also survived by his sister, Doris Marie Cooper (Johnny) of Atlanta, GA.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Doris Chapin; and his brother, Charles Chapin, all of Gulfport.

The family wants to express their love and appreciation to the women who so faithfully attended to him, Tonia Jackson, Neotia Nettles, Ana Scott, Ruby Taylor, Kathleen Warnsley, and Rolenia Wiggins.

Richard attended St. John Catholic School beginning in 1st grade and graduated St. John High School in a class of seven students. He taught himself to play tennis and to sail in a small sailboat he built. Richard attended Perkinston Junior College and was the State Doubles Tennis Champion in 1951. He served in the Army Security Agency for two years in Tokyo, Japan, and returned to graduate from University of Southern Mississippi as the manager of the Business Department at Memorial Hospital and was promoted to Hospital Administration. He was instrumental in establishing the dialysis unit at Memorial as the first Administrator of the hospital's Kidney Dialysis Unit and was in charge of Physician Recruitment at Memorial.

He was an avid tennis and golf player and won numerous tournaments. He enjoyed restoring vintage Mustang automobiles, and he and Martha enjoyed driving up and down the coast in their blue Mustang convertible. Richard served a ten-year appointment to the Gulfport School District Board of Trustees, including several years as School Board President. After his retirement from the hospital, he returned to serve five years on the hospital's Board of Trustees. He also served on the Board of Directors for both the Sunkist Country Club and the Great Southern Club, as well as the Dedeaux Utility Board of Directors. He was a charter member of the Bayou Bluff Tennis Club and a former member of the Gulfport Yacht Club and Rotary Club. Richard had a heart for helping people who had problems, and he faithfully visited friends and family who were home bound.

Visitation will begin at 3:00pm at St. James Catholic Church in Gulfport, with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 4:00pm on Monday, July 15, 2024.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, is serving the family. Please share memories, condolences and photos at www.riemannfamily.com.