Gypson P. "Gip" Chapman, age 94, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011. Born Nov. 5, 1916, in Temple, OK, he was the son of Selvin and Allie (Compton) Chapman. He married Kathryn Elizabeth Graff Dec. 21, 1940. Working in civil service in Houston at the start of WWII, he was transferred to Laughlin Air Base in Del Rio where he was chief B26 mechanic. Moving to Hondo after the war, he joined the staff of a growing Chapman Grain Company. He served the community over the years as one of the first group of volunteer fireman, as fire chief, and as a city councilman for some 20 years during which time much of the city's infrastructure was put into place. In the early 1960s he was instrumental in helping pass the bond election for the construction of Medina Memorial Hospital. He was a long-time Quihi Gun Club member and a 61-year member of the Hondo Masonic Lodge No. 756. After more than 50 years with Chapman Grain, he retired in 1992 at the age of 76 and later began driving a school bus. He was a dedicated father, a farmer/rancher, an avid hunter and fisherman, and he could fix almost anything with a piece of baling wire and not much else. Gip was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Kathryn; brothers, Russell, Wood, Bud and Rufus Chapman; and sisters, Virginia Thomas, Edith Sutherland and Sue Seewald. He is survived by his son, Jim Chapman and wife Liz of Austin; daughter, Jeri Stanfield and husband Pete of Lytle; grandchildren, Scott Conover and wife Wendy of Lytle, Robyn O'Bryan and husband Mike of McQueeny, Zak Chapman and wife Laura of Oklahoma City, and Eric Chapman of Hondo; and great-grandchildren, Tyler and Katy O'Bryan and Wyatt and Case Conover. Graveside Masonic service was Monday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m., at Hondo Cemetery, St. John's Section. Pallbearers were Steve Graff, Tyler O'Bryan, Scott Conover, Mike O'Bryan, Eric Chapman, Zak Chapman and Eric Bassett.