Okla-homey
9/16/2010, 02:52 PM
I know no one hear knew him, but, nevertheless, I need to tell my peeps.
Today, the Homey household mourns the loss of a great Southern gentleman.
This morning, in the home he occupied across the road from Mrs. Homey's family throughout her childhood in Orangeburg County, SC, Mr. Henry M. "Nick" Chaplin, Clemson University alum, infantry officer and combat veteran of the Korean War passed away. After the war, "Mr. Nick" returned home and took up his transit to earn a living as a registered surveyor.
Eventually, he became a real estate developer and was instrumental in creation of a rural water district that brought safe, clean water to thousands of rural homes in his county. For this work, he was honored by his native state with its highest civilian honor, the "Order of the Palmetto."
He and his sweet wife were present at every single significant event in our lives. When I was senior at The Citadel, I couldn't afford my sword. Mr. Nick bought one for me to use, claiming he wanted it for his collection and I would give it to him after graduation. At our wedding the day after graduation, he told me, "Son, you keep that sword, you earned it."
He taught this Okie how to drink bourbon, run a trot line to catch dozens of catfish in a single night, kill, scald, butcher and BBQ a hog, and a thing or two about human nature.
He is survived by his wife "Miss Betty" and two sons, Bill and Pete and ahost of grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Henry, Jr. Services are Saturday in the tiny Methodist church his family has attended for a century.
RIP Mr. Nick. You were a generous soul, an original and will be missed by everyone who knew you!
Today, the Homey household mourns the loss of a great Southern gentleman.
This morning, in the home he occupied across the road from Mrs. Homey's family throughout her childhood in Orangeburg County, SC, Mr. Henry M. "Nick" Chaplin, Clemson University alum, infantry officer and combat veteran of the Korean War passed away. After the war, "Mr. Nick" returned home and took up his transit to earn a living as a registered surveyor.
Eventually, he became a real estate developer and was instrumental in creation of a rural water district that brought safe, clean water to thousands of rural homes in his county. For this work, he was honored by his native state with its highest civilian honor, the "Order of the Palmetto."
He and his sweet wife were present at every single significant event in our lives. When I was senior at The Citadel, I couldn't afford my sword. Mr. Nick bought one for me to use, claiming he wanted it for his collection and I would give it to him after graduation. At our wedding the day after graduation, he told me, "Son, you keep that sword, you earned it."
He taught this Okie how to drink bourbon, run a trot line to catch dozens of catfish in a single night, kill, scald, butcher and BBQ a hog, and a thing or two about human nature.
He is survived by his wife "Miss Betty" and two sons, Bill and Pete and ahost of grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Henry, Jr. Services are Saturday in the tiny Methodist church his family has attended for a century.
RIP Mr. Nick. You were a generous soul, an original and will be missed by everyone who knew you!