Frederick Earl "Chappy" Chaplin

Frederick Earl “Chappy” Chaplin, 72, of Stuart, Florida, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 6, 2019, under the tender loving care of Treasure Coast Hospice with his devoted family by his side.  He was born December 5, 1946, in Kokomo, to the late Roy F. and Faye M. (Snider) Chaplin.

Fred graduated from Kokomo High School in 1965.  He served his country in the United States Army Combat Engineer Battalion with an honorable discharge and received two purple hearts for wounds received while serving in Vietnam. 

He retired from the Kokomo Fire Department as Battalion Chief in 1989 after 20 years of service.  After retirement, he moved to Stuart, Florida in February 1989.  He worked as the District Bureau Chief State Fire Marshall for the State of Florida and retired in 2014.

Fred was a proud American and civil servant.  He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and was always there to help anyone.  In his leisure time, he enjoyed riding his Harley with friends and family.  He will be missed by all.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Debbie Lynn Chaplin; his three children, Jason (Cora) Chaplin, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Nick (Krista) Chaplin, of Stuart, Florida, and Katie (Dan) McNamara, of Port St. Lucie, Florida; his five grandchildren, Olivia, Jackson, Maddox, Declan and Delaney; his three brothers, Roy (Toby) Chaplin, Dan (Janet) Chaplin and Brad (Kathy) Chaplin, all from Kokomo; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Fred’s life will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at 10:00 am at Martin Funeral Home & Crematory, Stuart Chapel, 961 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart, Florida, with Pastor Bruce Butler officiating. 

Burial will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery with full U.S. Army Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in loving memory of Fred can be made to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Martin Funeral Home & Crematory, Stuart Chapel, and Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, Kokomo.  Online condolences and expressions of sympathy can be made by visiting www.Martin-Funeral.com or www.shirleyandstout.com.

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