Yvonne J. Chapman

ELKHART — Yvonne J. Chapman, 87, residing in Elkhart, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, June 17, 2018 at Elkhart General Hospital.  She was born on October 10, 1930 in Detroit to the late Charles and Ozelma (Carl) Joseph. She was united in marriage to Daniel E. Chapman on April 8, 1951 in Potterville, Mich. Daniel passed away on May 22, 1997 after 47 years of marriage. Surviving are her children, Dennis E. (Mary) Chapman of Elkhart, Rebecca (Jay) Levine of West Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; 4 grandchildren, Benjamin Chapman, Andrew Chapman, both of Elkhart,  Rikki Levine of Seattle and Kelsi Levine and Fiancé Zach Yarost of Holt, Mich.

Yvonne was an educator her entire career, starting at age 19.  She taught kindergarten through 8th. Grade in the Benton Harbor (Mich) School District and was also principal at Columbus Elementary School in Benton Harbor for 23 years. Her husband Daniel was transferred to the Elkhart area.  She then worked for Elkhart Community School Corporation as the principal at Osolo Elementary School for 11 years prior to her retiring.

Yvonne was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and an active member of the community. She was a charter member of the morning Rotary Club, member of Elkhart Moose Lodge #599, Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, Elkhart Elks Lodge, League of Women voters, and was a 50 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and also a volunteer at Elkhart General Hospital.

Yvonne won a second drawing with the Hoosier Lottery and was able to send 4 family members to the Deal or No Deal show, hosted by Howie Mandel, where they won 25 thousand dollars; she was having back surgery and couldn’t go herself.  She was an avid animal lover and enjoyed feeding the wildlife and birds in her backyard.

Services celebrating the life of Yvonne Chapman will begin at Noon Saturday, June 23, 2018 at Billings Funeral Home; 812 Baldwin St. Elkhart, IN 46514, Visitation is 1 hour prior to the service. Rev. Jim Robertson will officiate. Per her wishes, cremation will follow services, with burial at a later date at North Shore Memory Gardens, in Coloma, Mich. In lieu of flowers, memorials are kindly requested to the Humane Society of Elkhart Co. or St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. On-line condolences may be sent to Yvonne’s family by visiting www.billingsfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Yvonne J. Chapman, please visit our floral store.