Staunton Star - Times - Published in the Interest of the Staunton Community for Over 143 Years

Raymond Allen Chapman, 82, of Bunker Hill, Ill., died at his residence on Friday, May 12, 2023. He was born Jan. 20, 1941, in Alton, to Bertram and Virginia (Stickney) Chapman Landreth. He married Mary Catherine "Cookie" Grelle on Sept. 30, 1961, in Alton. She preceded him in death on Jan. 14, 2022.

He was retired after working for Local 553 Pipefitters & Plumbers where he was a guard and taught trade school. He was manager of building maintenance at SIUE. He also had worked for Alton Plumbing and Heating, Bunker Hill School District, France Mechanical, Gent P & H and GRP Mechanical. Raymond served as vice president and the financial secretary of Local 553. He was a beekeeper for 40 years and was a member of the Illinois Bee Keepers Association of Southern Illinois and St. Clair County Bee Keepers Association. He was alderman of Bunker Hill for many years. He was mayor of Bunker Hill for 10 years. He was a former financial secretary for Bethalto Knights of Columbus where he was also 4th Degree. He was also a member of the Bunker Hill Lions Club. Raymond was a founding board member of the Bunker Hill Ambulance.

He is survived by his children, Teresa (Daniel) Cope of Bunker Hill, Jeffrey (Nannette) Chapman of Bunker Hill, Mary (Tod) May of Bunker Hill, Jennifer (Frank) Hamilton of Bunker Hill; grandchildren, Elizabeth (David) Golike, Elijak (Jodi) Strohbeck, Evan (Chelsea) Strohbeck, Meghan (Tommy) Santel, Justin (Kelsey) Hamilton, Heather Hamm, Kaitlyn Cope, Benjamin (Meghan) Cope, Megan (Sean) Huneke, Erick May, Patrick May, Michael May; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren, Alidia, Grayson, siblings, Larry (Betty) Chapman, Kathleen Landreth and sisters in law, Karen Chapman and Mildred Grelle. Raymond was preceded in death by his parents; wife; grandson, Andrew Chapman; great-granddaughter, Evelyn Santel; and brother, Carl Chapman.

Friends may call on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, May 18, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael Church in Staunton.

Memorials are suggested to St. Michael Church or the family wishes for Bunker Hill Memorial. Condolences may be left online at http://www.kravanyafuneral.com.