Obituary of Chester Joseph Clapp

Chester Joseph Clapp, 84, of Haines City, Florida passed away on January 20, 2022 at Winter Haven Hospital. He was born on April 3, 1937 in West Enfield, Maine to Edwin and Phoebe Goslin Clapp. He was a proud veteran of the Army National Guard of Maine 1954, achieving the rank of Corporal. Soon after a medical discharge and recovery from the National Guard, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving 3 years and obtaining the rank of Private First Class. Chester was given the National Defense Service Medal. In 1956, he moved to Florida from West Enfield, Maine, worked as a Telephone Technician for Southern Bell/AT&T, retiring in 1988. He was a member of the St. Matthews Catholic Church in Winter Haven, Florida. Chester had a great love and gift for carpentry, building many things but especially his own cabin back in Lincoln, Maine. He enjoyed watching DIY T.V. shows, reading, and helping others. Chester was funny, kind, gentle, hardworking, sweet, loving, and brave. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and he will be missed by all. He is preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Edwin Clapp, Jr. Chester leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife, of almost 65 years, Rita Clapp of Haines City, Florida; son, Donald Clapp of Lakeland, Florida; daughters, Deborah Clapp Scharfenberg of Newnan, Georgia and Kathleen Clapp Goodman of Orlando, Florida; brother, Gerald Clapp and wife, Val of West Enfield, Maine; and grandchildren, Michael Scharfenberg, Lauren Scharfenberg, Steven Scharfenberg, Ross Goodman and Brooke Goodman. The family will be having a private service and final resting place will be at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.