Penny Arlene (Newell) Chapman

Penny Chapman died peacefully at the hospice unit of Emory Hospital in Atlanta, GA on June 7, 2021 due to pancreatic cancer.

Penny was born in Pittsburgh, PA, daughter of Boyd and Agnes Newell. Growing up she lived in several places due to her father’s job with US Steel, including Amherst, OH, Gary, IN and Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Pleasant Hills, PA in 1962 and from Ohio University in Athens, OH in 1966 with a degree in Journalism/Public Relations.

In 1967 she married M. James Chapman of Canfield, OH and moved to South Euclid, OH (Cleveland area) where she worked at numerous jobs, including bank secretary, Red Cross Community Relations specialist, proof reader for several national magazines, Director of Community Relations for the city of South Euclid and middle school secretary. Penny was very active in her community and church, Forest Hill Presbyterian, including serving as an elder on several church boards and as PTA president in the South Euclid-Lyndhurst school district. In 1976 Penny gave birth to a son, Christopher, who still resides in the Cleveland area with his wife, Rhonda, and 2 daughters, Piper and Tenley, the light of Penny’s life.

In 2007 Penny and Jim retired and moved to Sun City in Bluffton, SC where they enjoyed their time traveling, reading, golfing and meeting new friends. She also belonged to several clubs, including the sewing club, the travel club and the computer club where she developed a strong interest in genealogy.

Predeceased by her parents, Penny is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Jim; her brother Dwight of Hillsborough, NJ; her son Chris and his wife Rhonda of Shaker Heights, OH; and her 2 beloved granddaughters. She is also survived by several nephews and cousins.

Penny’s family will be announcing a memorial service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, via their website www.pancan.org.

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