DONALD “DON” CHAPMAN

MAMOU/VILLE PLATTE - Funeral services for Mr. Donald “Don” Chapman, 81, will be held at 2 p.m. today, Thursday January 11, 2018 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Mamou.
Mr. Chapman, a resident of Eunice, a native of Ville Platte passed away Sunday, January 7, 2018 at his residence,
Don, left home at 17 after graduating from Ville Platte High School, to begin college in Hammond, leaving there to study voice under Harden Frank Church in Washington, DC. He then joined the US Airforce, becoming part of the Singing Sergeants for 8 years.
He made his opera debut in Mantua, Italy in 1967. Moving to Coburg, Germany in 1971, he became the resident singer at the Opera House, and was a member of the National Theater in Manneheim, Germany.
He then moved to New York and began working at CitiBank, until 1987, then returning to Louisiana, where he gained certification to teach French in elementary and high school, teaching for ten years in the St. Landry School system.
After his retirement from the school system, he became active in the Eunice Little Theater. True to his love of music Donald became the choir director at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Eunice, then Our Lady Queen of all Saints Catholic Church in Ville Platte, and presently at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Mamou.
He will be missed by many, and remebered by his nieces and nephews Joyce Miller Coreil, Jackie Miller Ballard, Kermit W. Miller, Oliva Miller Dodd, Chris Ellen Vidrine, Norwood Landreneau, Susan Vidrine Lowrey, Marlene Vidrine Barrilleaux, David Chatman, many great nieces and nephews, and his beloved cat Daphne.
He is preceded in death by his parents Arthelon Chapman and Avey Manuel Pitre Chapman Soileau; brother, Darius Chapman; sisters, Lilly Landreneau-Heinen, Joyce Chapman Miller, and Grace Pitre Vidrine.
Visitation will begin today, Thursday January 11, 2018 from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. in the LaVille Funeral Home Chapel, with a rosary being recited at 10:30 a.m. by Sheila Miller.
The guestbook can be signed online at www.lavillefuneralhome.net.
Laville Funeral Home of Ville Platte is on charge of arrangements.