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Joseph Rodney Chapman, 101, a lifelong resident of Freeport, PA, passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2022, peacefully, at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Natrona Heights. Rodney was born in his family home on High St. in Freeport on October 28, 1921, a son of the late Daisy Pearl (Wilson) and Joseph W. Chapman. He was the widower of Mary B. Chapman who passed in 2012 after 69 years of marriage. Rodney was a 1939 graduate of Freeport High School where he enjoyed singing and acting in the school plays and choral concerts. After graduation he took a job at Allegheny Ludlum Steel in Brackenridge. Two short years later he was drafted into the US Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Rodney completed his boot camp training and was sent off to fight in the European Theater with E Company of the 144th Infantry Regiment. Shortly after his arrival in Europe, the Nazis overran his company. He and others from his unit where taken prisoner and spent 7 months and 22 days in a Germany P.O.W. Camp. Rodney and other prisoners escape the camp, and he was able to return to his unit. He was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart. He received the French Legion of Honor award and was a Bronze Star recipient for acts of valor in combat against Adolf Hitler and his Nazi War Machine. After his honorable discharge in 1945 he returned home to Freeport and was reunited with his young wife, and they began their life together. Rodney took a job at the Freeport Post office as a carrier. He worked his way up to become the Chief Clerk at the Freeport office. He spent 35 years with the USPS and retired in 1981. Rodney then went to work for Four Winds Carpeting. He spent another 20 years at as an installer. On November 11th of this year the United States House of Representatives voted unanimously on bill H.R.8370 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 415 High Street in Freeport, as the "Corporal Joseph Rodney Chapman Post Office". He was a lifetime member of Freeport United Methodist Church. He was an active and valuable member of his church community. He authored a book on the history of the Freeport United Methodist Church. He served for many years on church council, trustee and chaired the education building expansion. Rodney was also the Freeport Historian with a wealth of knowledge about the town he spent his entire life in. Rodney was a member of the Freeport VFW, Freeport Odd Fellows, and the Freeport Renaissance Committee. Rodney is survived by his son, Thomas Joseph and Sandra Chapman, of Canton, OH; his daughter, Arlene Faye and Terry Derikart, of South Gate, MI. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren, Timothy (Leehta) Derikart, Stacy Jo Derikart, Jennifer Chapman and Sean Chapman. Great grandchildren, Emily, Meghan, Kevin & Jaidyn Derikart. Del Clifford, Jr. & Ian Clifford. William, Shauna, Ella Rae Chapman and Kalyn Hicks. In addition to his parents and his wife, Rodney was preceded in death by his sister, Emma C. Dame and Thelma McKelvey. Family and friends will be received on Wednesday December 7th from 6-8 pm and on Thursday December 8th from 2-4 and 6-8 pm in the Redmond Funeral Home Inc. in Freeport, PA. Funeral service will be held on Dec 9th at 1 pm in the Freeport United Methodist Church with Pastor Raymond Straughn officiating. Burial with full military honors will be held in Freeport Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Freeport United Methodist Church 211 4th Street Freeport, PA 16229.
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