Robert E. Bobby Chappell, Jr

Mr. Robert E. “Bobby” Chappell, Jr., age 82 of Griffin, passed away Tuesday, January 15, 2019 from complications of the rare disease ALS.
 
Mr. Chappell was born in Atlanta, Georgia on October 21, 1936.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Earl Chappell, Sr. and Mable Howard Chappell Heun. 

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Linda Brett Chappell; children, Brett (Laura), Lara (Pascal Fontez), Ted (Sharon), and Carrie; 10 grandchildren, Henry, Annie, Lily, Pierre, Justin, Sarah, Robert, Jackson, Amanda and Savannah.

Mr. Chappell was first in his family to earn a college degree. He was a graduate of Oxford College of Emory University ‘56 and Emory Business School ‘58BBA, ‘68MBA. He received numerous awards for academic achievement and ongoing service to Emory, which he continued throughout his life. He served as Chair of the Oxford College Board of Counselors, President of the Association of Emory Alumni, President of the Emory Board of Governors, and as a Trustee of Emory University. He is a member of the Emory Sports Hall of Fame. Mr. Chappell funded Emory’s varsity baseball facility, named Chappell Park in honor of his father, to whom he attributed his great appreciation for education and baseball.

Professionally, Mr. Chappell rose from analyst to Senior Executive VP and Chief Investment Officer during his 25 years at Metropolitan Life in New York. He served on numerous corporate boards, including those of Phillips Petroleum, First Colony Corp, First Brands, and others. In retirement, he returned to his hometown of Griffin, GA, where he founded Eagle Technologies, owned, managed, and broadcast on WHIE radio, and served as a director of United Bank. In his younger days, he served as First Lieutenant in the US Air Force.

Mr. Chappell was an active community servant. He was Deacon and Chair of the Finance Committee at First Baptist Church, Griffin, and he served on boards of several local non-profit organizations, including Stepping Stones Educational Therapy Center, Southern Crescent Technical College, and the Salvation Army Griffin, and was a member of the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. He loved sports and radio, and he broadcast Griffin High School sports in the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘90s, 2000s and ‘10s. He was an avid fan of Griffin High School athletics, UGA football, and Emory baseball, but most of all he loved to play with and cheer for his children and grandchildren.

Visitation for Robert Earl Chappell, Jr. will be Friday, January 18, 2019 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Griffin. Prior to the service, the family will receive visitors beginning at 12:30 pm in the parlor of First Baptist Church. Dr. Bill Hardee will officiate. Afterwards, the family will continue to Oak Hill Cemetery for his interment. The Brothers Sunday School Class and The Esther Sunday School Class are asked to sit as a group at the service.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Stepping Stones Educational Therapy Center at 141 Futral Road, Griffin, Georgia 30224; steppingstonesschool.org/giving or to the ALS Association of Georgia at http://webga.alsa.org.  The service may be viewed via live stream at https://fbcgriffin.org, watch live.

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