Dr. Frank E. Chapple III, Colonel US Army (Retired), 79, passed away on Friday, July 2nd, 2021 in Keller, Texas after a long battle with multiple myeloma.
Born in San Angelo, TX and raised in Slaton, TX, he was the eldest child of Frank E. Chapple, Jr. and Edith Louise Chapple, nee McCrohan.
On June 5th 1965, Frank married the love of his life, Marilyn Caryl Gilmore at Slaton United Methodist Church.
Frank graduated from Slaton High School and attended West Texas State College for 2 years. He transferred to Texas A&M where he received his BS in Veterinary Science. In 1967 he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine. The following month he entered the US Army as a Captain in the Veterinary Corps.
He began his career at Ft. Deterick, MD then served one tour of duty in Vietnam. Throughout his Army career, the Chapple family lived in Ft. Deterick, MD; College Station, TX; Brooks AFB, TX; AFRIMS/Bangkok, Thailand; Ft. Rucker, AL; and NBDL/New Orleans, LA. During his career, he received the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Army Commendation Medals, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. COL Chapple retired in 1988 after 21 years of service to our country.
Upon retiring from the Army, Dr. Chapple continued working in the field of veterinary medical research & development at Tulane Medical School, New Orleans and Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. He retired from Texas Tech in 2003. Now fully retired, Frank enjoyed spending time with his family and playing golf. In 2008 the Chapples moved from Lubbock to Keller, TX.
Frank was predeceased by his parents, Frank & Edith Chapple, and his brother-in-law, Charles E. Walton. He is survived by his precious wife of 56 years, Marilyn Chapple; his sister, Dee Walton; his brother Hoby Chapple and wife, Marilyn; his daughter Christy Grubbs and husband, Lee of Williamsburg, VA; his son Frank Chapple and wife, Anna of Keller, TX; and his grandchildren: Jackson Grubbs and wife, Morgan; Connor Grubbs and wife, Emily; Tristan Grubbs, Avery Chapple, Pablo Ubach, Carl Henslee, and Christopher Henslee.
A memorial service will be held at Lucas Funeral Home, 1601 South Main Street, Keller, Texas on Monday, August 2, 2021 at 10:00 AM. A military service will follow at Dallas - Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas at 1:00 PM.