Rayford C. Chapman

Rayford “Ray” Cawthon Chapman was born in Tennille, Georgia on May 26, 1925. He departed this life on October 29, 2018, exactly 13 years after the death of his wife, Mary. Ray was a Yeoman 2nd class in the United States Navy and a World War II veteran. When his military service ended in 1946 he moved from Georgia to California, beginning a 42-year career in transportation with the Metropolitan Transit Authority, later known as the Rapid Transit District (RTD), where he retired in 1988. During this period he spent a few years working for the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver, from 1979 to 1982. He married Mary Alice Parker in 1954 and had six children, residing for many years in Diamond Bar, California. He moved with Mary to Nevada in the late 1990s. After Mary’s death on October 29, 2005 he moved to Colorado to be near his daughters Julie and Susan, first residing in Thornton, and then later in Northglenn and Commerce City.

Ray was a kind and gentle man, who was dignified, soft spoken, and firm. He was a good listener, was quick to laugh, had the ability to accept people as they are, and the strength to endure life’s ups and downs without complaint. He was a devoted family man. He loved children, dogs, cooking, gardening, college football, and World War II history. He is missed by all who knew him.

Ray was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister, his daughter Melinda, his wife Mary, and his grandson Michael Tabares. He is survived by three sons and two daughters; Ray Jr. of Redlands, California (Martha White), Bob of Northglenn, Colorado, Steve of Temecula, California (Margarita Chapman), Julie Tabares of Commerce City, Colorado, and Susan Lombardi (Michael Lombardi) of Broomfield, Colorado, and by six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Private Services will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Olinger Cemetery, Thornton, CO.

Tabor-Rice Funeral Home handled arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rayford C. Chapman, please visit our floral store.