Roy Mansfield Chatham

Obituary: Roy Mansfield Chatham, age 96, passed away on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at CMC-NorthEast, Concord, NC after a declining period of one year. He was born November 19, 1917 in Rowan County, NC, the son of the late David Mansfield Chatham and Daisy Belle Goodnight Chatham. Roy lived at the former N.C. Baptist Children's Home, Thomasville Orphanage, from 1920 to 1936. After high school, he was educated at Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, IL. He began his work career at Duke Power Company in Kannapolis, NC. Then, on February 21, 1941, he was drafted into service with the United States Army, training at Ft. Bragg and Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He went to Liverpool, England and left with a convoy of Liberty Ships ("The Francis Scott Key") to carry supplies to North Africa. Each soldier was required to serve one year. They must have liked Roy's work and work ethic, because they kept him throughout the war. He was discharged August 7, 1945. Serving in the FAOB (First Artillery Observation Battalion - the "Fabulous First"). Their responsibilities were to locate and set up communications between the front line troops and headquarters. They were always close to the front lines. After the war, Roy returned to his job at Duke Power Company and worked there until his retirement (46 years). A faithful employee, he was always looking for a better way to conserve energy and had several "inventions" that saved the company, and consequently, the customers, money. These attracted attention from utility companies as far away as Chicago. He would take no credit for these, saying that he did it on company time. Roy was formally an active member of Allen-Graham Masonic Lodge #695. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his wife, Polly Hamilton Chatham; a grandson, Phillip Cline; and one sister, Mary Pearl Walter. The funeral service will be held at 3:30 P.M. Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at Whitley's Fuenral Home Main Chapel, Kannapolis, NC officiated by Dr. Thomas E. Cabaniss, First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, NC. and Rev. Phil McLean, pastor of Mountain Springs Baptist Church, Monroe, NC. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis, NC with military rites conducted by the N.C. Army National Guard. The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 3:30 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home prior to the service. Survivors include his children, Doris Mills & husband, Harry of China Grove, NC; David Chatham of Columbia, SC; and Ann Cline of Gold Hill, NC; grandchildren, Jeff Parker of Ohio; Cheryle VonEgidy & husband, Wesley of Marshville, NC; Andrew Parker of Ohio; and nine great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made in his memory to Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina, attn. Michael C. Blackwell, PO Box 338, Thomasville NC, 27361-9911 On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com
Visitation: 1:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. Tuesday November 4, 2014 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: 3:30 P.M. Tuesday November 4, 2014 Whitley's Funeral Home Chapel

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park Kannapolis, North Carolina