E. Barker Chapman

Elvis Barker Chapman of Waco passed away September 12, 2017. A Graveside Service will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 16, at Oakwood Cemetery with The Rev. Tim Jarrell officiating. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, September 15, in the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Barker was born June 22, 1928, in Hewitt, Texas, to Dula Barker and Elvis R. Chapman. He attended Hewitt public schools and graduated from Lorena High School. He was an honor graduate of Texas A&M University, one of four recipients of the Distinguished Honor Award for the Class of 1949. He served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army for 2 years, nine months of which were spent in Korea. Barker married the former Florine Ray on June 25, 1949. Upon graduation from college, he became associated with the firm Jackson & Barrett, in the insurance and real estate business. He served with the firm continuously except for the time spent in the armed forces and a short time spent with another firm in 1955. Barker became a partner in Jackson & Barrett in 1962. Jackson & Barrett merged with SWC Insurance into Insurors of Texas in 1980. He served as president of the firm nine years and retired in 1993, after 44 years in the insurance business. Barker was one of the founders of the First State Bank of Hewitt and served on the board. He was a member of Austin Avenue United Methodist Church and past chairman of the official board and the board of trustees. He served two years as vice president and member of the board of the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University, past president of Austin Avenue Men’s Club, Heart of Texas Lions Club, Waco Association of Independent Insurance Agents, and Waco McLennan County A&M Club, past director of the Waco Better Business Bureau, Baylor Waco Wesley Foundation Board, Waco Red Cross Chapter, and past trustee of Waco United Fund. He was a life member of the Texas Lion League for Crippled Children. He was a member of Ridgewood Country Club, Waco Lodge No. 92 AF&AM, Waco Chamber of Commerce, Century Club and 12th Man Foundation Texas A&M University, Waco Business League and Waco Executive Association. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister-in-law, Mary Annette Chapman. Barker is survived by his wife, Florine; two daughters, Carol and husband, Thomas M. Reding, Jr., and Missy and husband, George T. Johns; four grandsons, Jefferson Neves and wife, Yvonne, Thomas Reding, and Michael and Matthew Johns; one brother, Jerry J. Chapman of Longview, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Samuel Eric and Emma Margaret; and three nieces. Honorary Pallbearers are Tom Chase, Malcolm Duncan, Leslie Dupuy, John Hatchel, Norman Hay, Bernd Hirsch, Bill Lewie and Harold Mathias. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Austin Avenue United Methodist Church, 1300 Austin Avenue, Waco TX 76701. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.