Dorothy Chapman Obituary

Description: Dorothy Chapman Obituary... Our Heartfelt Condolences To Her Loved Ones...

October 25th, 1924 – November 25th, 2025

Obituary

After celebrating her 101st birthday, Dorothy Chapman is now celebrating eternity with Christ. She entered His presence November 25, 2025. Dorothy was born October 25,1924, in Lodi, CA to Reverend Roy Jefferson (RJ) and Lucille (Bollinger) Thurmond. She was the second of six children with older brother Carl and younger siblings Bill, Faith, Roberta and Rheta Joann.

Dorothy married Ivan Chapman in 1945. Three daughters were born while they lived in Northern CA prior to moving to Missouri in 1955 and Oklahoma in 1969. Dorothy moved to La Junta, CO in 1978.

Dorothy was active in many professional, civic, educational, and faith activities throughout the Arkansas Valley. She was a member of La Junta Methodist Church, Toastmasters International, La Junta Chamber of Commerce, Christian Women's Club, Stonecroft Ministries, and PEO Sisterhood. She also enjoyed supporting and being a part of the Picketwire Players.

Dorothy was employed in the Human Resources Department of La Junta Medical Center where she recruited and opened her home to many traveling nurses while they worked at the hospital. After retiring from the hospital, she remained involved in many activities, conceding to full retirement when she stopped teaching English part-time at Pioneer Christian School in the Spring of 2014. She often explained that no student wants a 90-year-old teacher.

Dorothy is survived by daughters Charissa (Stuart) Booth of Parker, CO; Alethea Broadwater of Kellogg, MN; Cynthia Bowman of Alma, WI; grandchildren Alethea (Douglas) Wingert, of Parker, CO; Brandon (Liv) Booth of Canon City, CO; and Dan Broadwater of Bath, ME. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Taliah and Eliana Wingert; Soren, Solveig, Lily, Torben, and Leif Booth; Joshua (Bailey) and Gracen Broadwater as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews living primarily in California and Oklahoma.

She cherished the friendship of her “adopted” daughter Marcella Manyik and was blessed by the love and concern she received by those who cared for her in Fowler Nursing Home.

She will always be an inspiration to her family as a woman of strength and courage who met life with an unfailing faith in Christ.

A celebration of her life will be held privately with her immediate family. Bellwood Ustick Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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