H. Keller CHAMPMAN

Published in The Tennessean on May 29, 2010

CHAMPMAN, H. Keller Born July 20, 1926, entered in the kingdom on May 28, 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pride Robert Chapman and Ethel Marie Chapman; his brothers, Dick Luckey and Pride Robert Chapman, Jr.

He was a 1945 graduate of North High School where he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. He was a unanimous selection to the 1945 All City Basketball Team, and was one of the leaders on three championship teams.

Keller signed a minor league baseball contract with the Boston Braves in 1946 and was assigned to Evansville in the 3A league. He was an active member of the Capital City Golf Association and the Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association. He was elected to the OTBA Hall of Fame in 1992.

He served his country during WWII with the US Navy aboard the USS Neshoba (APA216) in the Pacific. He worked 39 years for Wilson Sporting Goods as a sales representative before retiring in 1988. He was a member of the Charlotte Heights Church of Christ.

Keller is survived by wife of 61 years, Joyce I. Chapman; two sons, H. Keller (Julia) Chapman, Jr.; Kevin P. (Libby) Chapman; grandchildren, Kristin C. (Matt) Davis, Kelley D. Chapman "KC" (Caty) Chapman, and Nathan Chapman; great grandchildren, Savannah Chapman, Elliott Davis, and Aaron Davis; nieces, Dottie (Carl) More, Nancy (Leonard) McGugin, Jacqueline (Ray) Appleton, Joy (John) Austin.

Funeral Services will be on Sunday, May 30, 2010, at 2 p.m., in the Serenity Chapel of Mount Olivet Funeral Home with Interment following in historic Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Pallbearers: KC Chapman, Nathan Chapman, Matt Davis, Gray Hayes, John Melton, and Brandon Elkins. Honorary Pallbearers: Joe Casey, Maurice Partain, Bobby Kimbro, Virgil Nipper, Sam Crocker, Buck Pardue, Charles Isham, John Austin, Hansel Krantz and Elmer Cartwright.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the building fund of Charlotte Heights Church of Christ or to the Alive Hospice.

Visitation with the family will be on Saturday from 2-5 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 p.m. until service time in the Acklen Stateroom of the MOUNT OLIVET FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY, 1101 Lebanon Road; online guestbook www.mountolivet.com, (615)255-4193.