Kenneth Chapmann

Kenneth Wilson Chapman, 74, of Sabinal went to be with his Lord on Jan. 1, 2024, at his residence eight miles east of Concan following a lengthy battle with cancer.
The family is hosting a celebration of life on Feb. 3rd at 2 p.m. at the Sabinal Methodist Church.
Kenneth was born on July 16, 1949, in Hondo, to Georgia Mae Richarz and Woodrow Wilson Chapman.
He married Alice Lee Coble on Sept. 19, 1971, in Schertz, Texas. They had two sons, Lucas and Todd, with whom he delighted in sharing his knowledge and talents in everything from hunting, ranching, furniture-making, and knife-making.
During high school, he was an avid sportsman, competing in football and track. He was featured in a 1966 edition of Texas Football Magazine alongside his cousin Richard Chapman.  
Kenneth took pride in coaching his oldest son Lucas to the state championship in track and field for several years; and, in turn, took joy helping Lucas coach his own daughter, Kamryn, to the state level in discus and shot put.
He was a working cowboy and helped his father raise cattle and sheep on the 700-acre farm and ranch that was originally part of his grandfather's ranch, the Oscar Richarz Sr. Ranch.
Kenneth graduated from Texas A&I University in Kingsville with a degree in agricultural mechanics and worked for the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in Uvalde for about five years as an agricultural mechanic.
He later worked at Gensco's farm and ranch division before moving to Uvalco, where he spent more than 38 years. Through his work in the farm and ranch business, he became well acquainted with local farmers and ranchers, and he retired from Uvalco in March of 2023 to manage his own ranch on a full-time basis. He enjoyed wildlife management and farming.
He enjoyed working on guns and reveled in mentoring his sons in the work. Gun dealers often required his expertise of guns and ammunition when working on valuations of antique models.
He also liked to build custom mesquite furniture for buyers across Texas, and he passed the talent on to Lucas.
He shared his talent in knife-making to his youngest grandson and namesake, Will.
He was an avid hunter and enjoyed trips, which included heading to Canada in pursuit of bears and moose, Alaska for caribou, and Florida for alligators. Two of his most memorable trips include one with Lucas to Alaska, where they flew into a secluded island, each bagging caribou, and seeing the aurora borealis. The other adventure was in Florida with youngest son Todd, where they each killed a 10-foot alligator. He recounted the experience in a submission to the Uvalde Leader-News Hunter's Journal story contest and won second place.
Kenneth was a member of the Sabinal Methodist Church and Sabinal Masonic Lodge. He also previously served on the Sabinal Independent School    District board of trustees and on the Sabinal City Council.
He is survived by his wife Alice of 52 years, ; two sons, Lucas Boone Chapman and wife, Kimberly, of Sabinal, and Todd Allen Chapman and wife, Gabriela Andrea Badica, of Palo Alto, California; five grandchildren, Kyle Chapman and wife, Alexandra, Kristina Chapman Moore and husband, Colton, Taylor Jo Chapman, Kamryn Lee Chapman, and Kenneth Wilson “Will” Chapman; three great-grandchildren, Cash, Parker and Tripp Moore; nephew, Erin Thompson; niece, Heather Thompson; and beloved dog, Roxie.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Janice Lee Chapman and her husband, Ronald Joe Thompson.
Cremation is under the direction of Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to your favorite charity.