FORT MILL, SC – Mr. Donald Irving Chapman, age 85, passed away Friday, September 9, 2022. He was born June 6, 1937, in Los Angeles, CA, son of the late Donald Marshall Chapman and Evelyn Augur Chapman and was the husband of Wathena Starr Chapman. Raised in Tucson, AZ, after high school, served in the United States Navy 4 years. After the Navy, he went to Colorado and worked in the auto industry where he invented off-road vehicle accessories and founded Thor Winches. Mr. Chapman became an avid sailor and built sailboats at Alajuela Yachts and consulted a program to build sailboats in Mexico. When he returned to the United States, he worked for NCDOT Ferry Division and then retired to South Carolina.

Mr. Chapman is survived by his wife of 52 years, Wathena Chapman; three sisters, Delores Taub, Janice Cash, and Sheron Jones; a step-son, Mark Sundin; and a special family member, Carrie Mellenbruch.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Deborah Chapman.

The family will hold a service at a later date.

An online guest register is available for condolences on the obituaries page at www.burgessfunerals.com .

Burgess Funeral Home and Crematory of Lancaster is caring for the family of Mr. Chapman.