Ruth Chapman

Lila "Ruth" Seal Chapman was born December 23, 1915, in Clay County, Kansas to Charles and Mary Alice (Gunselman) Seal. She died on January 05, 2015. She was the granddaughter of Joseph Seal, who immigrated, with his family of 12, in 1869, from Northamptonshire, England, and homesteaded in Gill Township, where Ruth was reared. That property remains in family possession. She graduated from Clay Center High School in 1935 and attended Kansas State College, Manhattan, Kansas. In 1937 she traveled by train to Medford, Oregon, where she married Floyd Chapman, formerly of Wakefield. Their first date was to the "Green" picnic. In 1942 they returned to Kansas with their three children and began farming in Clay County. In 1957 they purchased the International Harvester business in Minneapolis, Kansas. They operated "Chapman Implement" until they retired to rural Wakefield and resided near Ruth’s childhood home. During retirement they wintered in Harlingen, Texas where they enjoyed their circle of friends. They traveled frequently, visiting family and friends from Texas to Alaska. Ruth was best known for her quiet and loving manner; she always put others before herself. She was a wonderful cook and seamstress, making many clothes for her family. She was an avid gardener and preserved food for her family; however, cultivating roses was her forte. Floyd, her husband of 65 years, preceded her in death on December 9, 2004. Others who preceded her in death were her parents; her sisters, Esther Yarrow and Marguerite Barney; son, Larry Chapman; grandsons, Petey Blevins and John McClure; and one great-grandson, Chris Blevins. Survivors include her brother, Royal Seal, of Sequim, Washington; son, John (Deb) Chapman of Wakefield; and daughters, Marcile (Marcy) Chapman, Manhattan, Kansas; Sandy (Charles) Bieker of Wakefield; and Marilyn (Gilbert) McClure of Kansas City, Kansas; 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren. Ruth willed her body to KU Medical Center for research. A private family celebration will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Meadowlark Hospice in Clay Center or the charity of your choice c/o the funeral home. Her final resting place will be Highland Cemetery, Wakefield. Online condolences may be made at www.nsrfh.com