---

ERNEST EDWIN CHAPPLE, JR.

Ernest Edwin Chapple, Jr., 78, of Murphy, NC died Friday, October 21, 2005. He was a native of Birmingham, AL, but has resided in Murphy since 1993. Edwin was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps during World War II, fighting in the Pacific Theatre in Peiping, Tientsin, Shanghei, and Tsingtao. After attending Ole Miss on the GI Bill, he began his exemplary career as a geophysicist for Stanolind Oil and Gas in Houston, TX in 1952. From there he joined Brown Engineering and the Chrysler Corporation, where he worked in the space program on the Apollo, Saturn, and Titan programs and early designs of the space shuttle. A design of Edwin's from the space program is on display at the Smithsonian Institute. In 1977, Edwin began working for the Department of Energy at Oak Ridge, TN on the Clinch River Breeder Reactor, and then in New Orleans, LA on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He was baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church. He was also an active member of the Cherokee Hills Country Club Men's Golf Association and the China Marine Association.

Edwin was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest E. and Dovie Watson Chapple; one son, Tracy Chapple; his sister, Kay Chapple; and his grandson, Stefan Chapple.

Surviving are his wife of 31 years, Bridget Verdin Chapple; four children, David Chapple and his wife, Marsha of Derry, NH, Victorine Cantrell and Pamela Lakey and her husband, Allen all of Jacksonville, FL, and Ralph Hubler of Lafayette, TN; his sister, Ernestine Chapple of Birmingham, AL; his brother, Arthur Chapple and his wife, Georgia of Atlanta, GA; and eight grandchildren, Aaron Chapple, Christopher and Andre Cantrell, Scott, Shawn, and Stone Lakey, Jason Naquin, and Tiffany Brandon.

Funeral services at 2:00 PM Monday (October 24, 2005) in the Chapel of the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Rev. Perry Brown officiating. Burial in the Ranger Methodist Church Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the American Legion Post No. 96, D.A.V. Chapter 73, and V.F.W. Post 10222.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 Sunday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made in memory of Ernest Chapple to the Ranger Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Richard Kilpatrick, 405 Hilltop Road, Murphy, NC 28906.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

---