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Bradley Louis Chapman

Bradley Louis Chapman, age 57 of Columbus, formerly of Richwood, died unexpectedly Saturday, September 21, 2013 at Memorial Hospital of Union County in Marysville. He was born April 11, 1956 in Marion to the late Theodore and Helen Viola (Sabo) Chapman.  He was also preceded in death by a brother, Danny Lee Chapman and a sister, Penny Mae Chapman. On March 27, 1976 he married the former Melody Kay Reese in New Cumberland, West Virginia, and she survives in Columbus.  He is also survived by a son, Benjamin Sebastian Chapman, San Francisco, California; nephew, Lance (Pam) Chapman; niece, Jenise (Mike) Price; great niece and nephew, Tyler and Jacquelyn Hader; an aunt, Jeanne (Charles) Warner, Richwood; uncle, David (Marianne) Chapman, Scottsbluff, Nebraska and many extended family members. He had a knack for engineering and repairing mechanical things, which began at an early age.  Bradley would take things apart to see how they worked, sacrificing a few toasters and clocks along the way.  He once secretly traded for a mini-bike that didn’t run and worked on it in friend’s garage, finally getting it to work.  His love for motorcycles and speed began. He loved driving and working on sports cars and in 1975 worked at Foreign Auto Repair on S. High Street in Columbus, enjoying the test drives after repairs the most.  He had worked for a short time at Webb Plastics in Richwood and had been an electrician in Ashley.  Bradley started a company in Marysville installing cable TV in homes, right when cable was first getting popular.  He worked at Grumman Flexible in Delaware for over four years where he fixed electrical wiring harnesses on buses, before he worked on the team that designed the first wheelchair lift prototypes.  He was an honest and meticulous worker and safety was his top concern in the work he did. During tough times after a company buyout, he began researching renewable energy to help reduce household bills.  He researched and designed a solar energy product and began a business called Terra Alternate Energy.  With no investor funding, the project failed. He then went to work for Battelle Memorial Institute for the next twenty years in the Space and Defense Department.  He loved the research and design work, and enjoyed building, testing and improving products.  Easily bored and always wanting to do something new, he resigned from Battelle and went to work for PIRI (Photonic Integration Research) in Hilliard. Brad’s efforts as an entrepreneur had recently come to fruition.  The solar energy project he had started years ago was refined and enhanced and finally sold.  Bradley had dreamed of owning a Lotus sports car and had just picked it up the day he died.  Although he had little time to enjoy it, he had achieved his life’s dream. A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 6:00 PM at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home, Richwood with Pastor Steve Chapman officiating.  Friends may call 2 hours prior to the service, beginning at 4:00 PM.  Burial will take place at Claibourne Cemetery at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 740 Lakeview Plaza Blvd. Suite 225, Worthington, OH 43085 Directions to Claibourne Cemetery Florist Login Feel free to post a remembrance on this person's birthday, anniversary of passing, holidays, or whenever feels appropriate.

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Remembrances       to #1 Private  Log in to view.   View Older Condolences >> Condolences       to #1 from: nancy brookbank monroe,nc Mon, Sep 23, 2013 at 2:10 PM my heart can;t express how i feel right now...the obituary was beautiful...brad was like a big brother to me than a cousin...him,mel,ben  u have always been apart of my life even when we have been miles apart and mel u are like a sister to me...this is so hard...i wish i was there in person to give u all a big hug....there will be a big void now without u Brad...but ohh i see the reunion u are having with ur dad,mom,brother and sister   love to all  nancy #2 from: Chris Terry Monroe, NC Mon, Sep 23, 2013 at 2:43 PM I am so sorry for your loss, though i had not seen Brad in several years it still saddens me to know that you are grieving the loss of both a husband, father and dear friend. My wife and I will keep your family in our prayers. #3 from: Philip & Kaye Price Arlington, TN Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 12:29 AM Mel, we were shocked to hear of Brad's death.  His passing at such a young age is difficult to accept.  We are praying for you and all of your family.  May God bless you and keep you as you face the future without Brad by your side.  May God give you a peace that passes understanding in the days to come.  May you find comfort in knowing that your friends and family love and care for you. #4 from: Rev.Dr..Randy Dirk Cheney  Richwood Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 4:17 PM Melody, I just received word of Brad's untimely passing. May our Lord envelope you in His grace. If I can be of assisstance, please call on me for anything. Dirk Cheney

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