Alexander Vincent Chapates, age 86, The Villages, FL passed away on Friday, September 25, 2015 at his home. Alex was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Alexander S. and Mary (Locatis) Chapates, immigrants from Lithuania. He was the youngest of four children, affectionately called Sonny by his parents and sisters. Upon graduating from Langley High School in 1947, he enlisted in the United States Navy. As a young sailor he met and fell in love with his beautiful wife, Winona, at a dance in Philadelphia. They raised a family while stationed all over the world: in Guam, the Philippines, Morocco and Spain, before returning to the States to Lakehurst, New Jersey. Alex proudly served the Navy for twenty-two years, retiring as an Aerographer’s Mate Senior Chief Petty Officer. Following his Navy career, Alex worked as a meteorological technician for NOAA’s National Weather Service, first at Naval Air Station- Lakehurst, New Jersey and then at Worcester Municipal Airport in Worcester, Massachusetts, residing in the town of Holden. In 1990, Alex and his wife moved to The Villages where they spent their retirement years golfing (Alex with his group “The Knights of the Unstable Table”), traveling, socializing at the Elks Lodge, and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers games and The Weather Channel. Over the years they delighted in many reunions with life-long friends at the annual Naval Weather Service Association Aerographer’s Mate Reunions, attending the first one held in August of 1975. Throughout his life Alex enjoyed fishing, attending/watching sports of all sorts, coaching his oldest in Little League baseball, his beloved Siamese cats and his cigars. Alex was preceded in death by his parents and his loving sisters Marcella, Stella and Lenora. He is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Winona (Creighton) Chapates, their six children and their spouses: Robert and Jan of Royal Oak, Michigan; Linda and Lee Carrier of Yuma, Arizona; John and Cindy of Manassas, Virginia; Marianne Holmes of Garden Grove, California; David and Jennifer of Allen,Texas; Diane and Bill Scherer of San Diego, California; as well as eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. A gathering will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2015 from 2 – 4 p.m. at Beyers Funeral Home, 134 N. US Hwy. 441, Lady Lake, FL. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 16, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. at St. Timothy Roman Catholic Church, 1351 Paige Place, Lady Lake. A procession will follow to Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL for an inurnment with full military honors at 10:30 am. The family will then welcome guests for brunch at the American Legion Lodge, 699 W Lady Lake Blvd, Lady Lake. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
