DRACUT - Edward R. Chaplin, 87, a longtime resident of Dracut for 59 years, died Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at home surrounded by his family. He was the loving husband of Dolores Marie (O'Neil) Chaplin, with whom he was happily married for 63 years.
He was born on July 5, 1920 in Lowell, the son of the late William F. and Miriam (Midgley) Chaplin. He graduated from Lowell High School in the class of 1939.
Mr. Chaplin was a United States Navy veteran serving as a shipfitter in World War II in the Pacific region and he served in the North Atlantic region prior to the war.
He was employed by the Litchfield Oil Company in Dracut where he serviced customers in the greater Lowell area for 30 years, until his retirement.
Mr. Chaplin was a member of Ste. Therese Church at Ste. Marguerite D'Youville Parish. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #315 in Dracut for 50 years, and served as a past commander.
In addition to his wife he is survived by three sons, Edward Chaplin, M.D. and his wife Peg of San Diego, CA, David Chaplin D.V.M. of Winthrop, ME, and Dennis Chaplin of Hudson, NH ; two daughters, Candace Chaplin and her husband John Terninko of Nottingham, NH, and Patricia Kennedy and her husband Kevin of San Jose, CA; five grandchildren, Deborah Spalding and her husband John, Anastasia Shuman and her husband (Ste, Melissa Chaplin, Samuel Chaplin and Grace Kennedy; four great grandchildren, Cole Spalding, Evan Spalding, Emma Shuman, and Brady Shuman; a brother Wallace Chaplin of North Carolina; and many nephews and nieces.
He was also the brother of the late William Chaplin.
Friends may call at the DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Avenue, DRACUT, on Thursday from 4 until 8PM. His funeral will be held from the funeral home on Friday at 8:30AM followed by his Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 9:30 AM at Ste. Therese Church at Ste. Marguerite D'Youville Parish in Dracut. Interment in St. Patrick Cemetery in Lowell. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ste. Marguerite D'Youville Parish, 1340 Lakeview Avenue, Dracut, MA 01826 or the VNA Care Network of Greater Lowell, Hospice Program, 336 Central Street, Lowell, MA 01852.