MOUND VALLEY — William F. “Bill” Chapman Jr., 56, of Mound Valley died at 8:50 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. He had been in his usual health, and death was not expected.

He was born on Aug. 1, 1955, in Parsons to William F. “Bill” and Mary Lou (Berends) Chapman. He grew up in Southeast Kansas and was a 1973 graduate of Labette County High School in Altamont.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed in Bangor, Wash., until his honorable discharge in 1977.

After his discharge, he returned to the family farm in rural Mound Valley, where he and his father farmed and raised cattle. He then continued his education at Labette Community College, where he earned two associate degrees. Following 33 1/2 years of dedicated service, he had recently retired from the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center.

He was a lifetime member of the U.S. Marine Corps League and the North American Limousin Foundation. He was also a member of the VFW Men’s Auxiliary and Labette County Fair Board, for which he had served as beef superintendent for numerous years. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and his chosen profession of farming. He was an avid KU fan. He was honored to be called “Papa Bull” by his grandchildren.

He married Janice C. Headley on July 9, 1976, in Wichita. She survives of the home.

Additional survivors include a son, Frank Chapman and his wife, Kelly, of Parsons; a daughter, Jessica Chapman of Parsons; three grandchildren, Carollyn, Andrea and William Chapman; his mother, Mary Lou Chapman of rural Parsons; two brothers, Carl Chapman of rural Mound Valley and Allen Chapman of rural Parsons; a sister, Donna Goins and her husband, Deland, of Altamont; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, William F. Chapman, on Jan. 4, 2011.

The service will be at 10 a.m.Tuesday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Mound Valley Cemetery with military honors given by the U.S. Marine Corps League and Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the Labette County Fair Board Scholarship Fund or the Ronald McDonald House and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.