Lt. Col. (Ret.)Curtis J. Chappell Jr.

Curtis J. Chappell Jr., age 79, died Thursday, March 31, 2016 , at Scott and White Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

Mr. Chappell is survived by a wife, Betty Lee, a brother, Roy Lee Chappell, and two children: Lori D. Chappell and Kenneth W. Chappell. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Annika Johnson, Hillary Johnson, Kevin Chappell and Morgan Chappell.

Curtis is a retired United States Air Force and Alabama Air National Guard veteran. He served in the United States Air Force as a Weapons Systems Operator and Navigator from 1957 until 1971. He then served in the Alabama Air National Guard until retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1986.   During his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal of Alabama for his outstanding service.

He was born October 19, 1936 , in Whiteman , West Virginia , the oldest son of Sybil and Curtis J. Chappell Sr. Curtis was a member of the U.S. Naval Air Ready Reserve from November 1953 to April 1958. He attended Devry Technical Institute in Chicago , IL , before entering military service in 1957. Curtis and his wife moved to Belton , TX , in August 1989. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Belton and was an active member of the choir and held various leadership roles in the church over the years. He was awarded a certificate of appreciation for his service in the Morgan’s Point Resort Fire Department where he served as a volunteer for many years.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church of Belton, Attn: Music Department.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Belton. Mr. Chappell will be interred on Friday, April 29, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen .