Margaret Wardrop Chapman

Today we celebrate the life of a remarkable woman, musician, journalist, aunt, and friend, but most of all dedicated Mother, doting Grandmother, and loving Great-grandmother. Margaret Wardrop Chapman left this life graciously on February 1, 2010, in her home in Bountiful, Utah, as the shadows were falling. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on September 19, 1915, to Leo Chivrell and Rosanna Zumbrunnen Wardrop. She was the oldest of four children. Her childhood years were spent in Salt Lake City where she attended South High School and later the University of Utah on a music scholarship. She met her husband, Hyrum Whitney Chapman, on a blind date arranged by her girlfriend, Alda. He was charming and handsome, but little did she know she would be marrying him, a farm boy from Bluewater, New Mexico, who rode a motorcycle and attended BYU on a football scholarship. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 27, 1936, by President Joseph Fielding Smith. They began their life together in East Millcreek and soon after moved to Southern California where they raised their two children. After 40 years they returned to Bountiful, Utah. She stood side by side with her husband in family, community, business, and church responsibilities. She sustained him and served with him in all of his callings in the church, including serving as his scribe during his service as Stake Patriarch in Woodland Hills, California, and Bountiful, Utah. Margaret and Whitney were inseparable in life, one name rarely mentioned without the other. They knew their relationship was an eternal love affair, having a special bond of love and dedication between each other that lasted a lifetime of 62 wonderful years and served as an inspiration to us all. He died in 1998, and she missed him every day since then. She has led an extraordinary life, not because she turned the world around, but because she has touched the hearts and lives of many with acts of charity and humanitarian service to others. She was always ready and willing to serve. She rendered countless hours of service to others as a volunteer in the community. Even at 87 years of age she volunteered with the Winter Olympics, welcoming people to Utah at the State Capitol Visitor’s Center. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, fulfilling many callings in both Ward and Stake leadership positions. Some of her fondest memories were those of serving in those church callings. Margaret served a mission with her husband in the Washington D.C. Temple Visitor’s Center Mission. She spent her life in service to others, leaving her family a legacy of faith and testimony. She had a strong, unquestionable testimony and loved the Lord, Jesus Christ, and knew that it was &qoute;by Him and through Him that we may have eternal life.&qoute; In her quiet years she has gently taught us about dignity and patience. Her love for music was a hallmark in every chapter in her life. She was a talented pianist, organist, and choral director, having studied under Alexander Shriner and attending the McCune School of Music. She won numerous awards for her skills as an accomplished pianist. She directed many cantatas and musical productions throughout Southern California. Up until the end of her life she was still practicing the piano one to two hours a day as her hands could still slide up and down the ivories creating beautiful strains. She was always eager to make a memory both with her loved ones and her friends. She loved things of beauty, especially her rose garden, and enjoyed traveling around the world. She spent hours planning family activities and reunions. Her recipes have been passed down through three generations. She invariably faced the future with determination, unquenchable curiosity, excitement, and with a truly grateful heart. Margaret had an unwavering love and conviction of the goodness and strength of her ancestors who were pioneers crossing the plains in their trek west from Switzerland, Scotland, and England. She penned to her family, &qoute;We should be grateful to God and to these people who have given us life, love, courage and enduring appreciation for those who came before us.&qoute; She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and Utah Women of Southern California. With determination, we who survive her will try our best to honor her life by living lives worthy of her great example. So influential in all our lives, she now becomes our Guardian Angel. She leaves behind a legacy of love that will never be forgotten. Welcoming her to Heaven are her husband and soul-mate, Whitney; her parents Leo and Rosanna; and her dear sister and best friend, Leone Wardrop MacKay, who preceded her in death by seven weeks. Staying behind to carry on her legacy are her two children, Gregory Laurie Chapman, Bountiful, and Rosanne Jim Bishop, Fruit Heights; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Calvin Dorothy Wardrop, Salt Lake City, and Glen Pauline Wardrop, Gilbert, Arizona. The family would like to express special thanks to Nurse Annie and Nurse Rebecca for their love and companionship to our mother. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 6, 2010, at 12:00 p.m. at the Mueller Park Stake Center, 1800 East Mueller Park Road 1800 South, Bountiful, Utah. A visitation will be held Friday evening, February 5, 2010, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main and Saturday morning from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the church prior to the service. Interment – Wasatch Lawn City Cemetery where she will be buried beside her parents and husband, whom she so dearly loved.