Obituary for Chester William Chase
Chester William Chase (74) of Coventry, Connecticut passed away at home after a lengthy battle with Cancer on December 23rd, 2020. Chester was born in Hardwick, VT before moving to Ellington, CT as a child with his family. Chester moved to Coventry in 1971 with his wife and children and was predeceased by his wife Marilyn Skinner Chase in 2011.
Chester served on active duty in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Boston and was honorably discharged in 1967. After several years out of the service he returned with Marilyn where they enlisted in the Navy Reserves and both retired after 20 years of service in the Seabees, Chester retired in 1991 as an Equipment Operator Chief Petty Officer. He served on many special projects across the country with the Navy Seabees and was recalled to active service in Desert Storm. Chester spent many years volunteering, as an instructor, with the U.S. Navy Sea Cadet program in Plainville, CT where he mentored dozens of teens who ultimately moved on to active military service. Chester believed all citizens should be involved and active in their communities. He served as a member of the Coventry Republican Town Committee and as an elected representative on the Coventry Town Council for several years. Chester worked for over 40 years as an Operating Engineer in the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478, with several Connecticut construction companies, before his retirement. Chester enjoyed many hobbies including hunting and fishing with his grandchildren, taking motorcycle trips across country with family members, racing pigeons with family on the weekends as a member of the Manchester Nutmeg Racing Pigeon Club, traveling to his cabin in Vermont, telling sea stories and making furniture in his workshop. Chester was a jack of all trades, was featured in motorcycle magazines in the 70’s for his rebuilt Indian Motorcycles and was recognized all around town during the same period in his hand built wooden body “green” jeep.
Chester is survived by his son, Eric, his wife, Shellie, and grandchildren, Andrew and Alyson of Chaplin; his daughter, Laura-Jean Nuno, her husband, Ed, and grandchildren, Justin and Chase of Coventry; his great-grandson Kaden; his many brothers and sisters in Vermont, Florida and Connecticut; his many nieces and nephews and his friends, too many to count, he made all over the world.
Chester served on active duty in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Boston and was honorably discharged in 1967. After several years out of the service he returned with Marilyn where they enlisted in the Navy Reserves and both retired after 20 years of service in the Seabees, Chester retired in 1991 as an Equipment Operator Chief Petty Officer. He served on many special projects across the country with the Navy Seabees and was recalled to active service in Desert Storm. Chester spent many years volunteering, as an instructor, with the U.S. Navy Sea Cadet program in Plainville, CT where he mentored dozens of teens who ultimately moved on to active military service. Chester believed all citizens should be involved and active in their communities. He served as a member of the Coventry Republican Town Committee and as an elected representative on the Coventry Town Council for several years. Chester worked for over 40 years as an Operating Engineer in the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478, with several Connecticut construction companies, before his retirement. Chester enjoyed many hobbies including hunting and fishing with his grandchildren, taking motorcycle trips across country with family members, racing pigeons with family on the weekends as a member of the Manchester Nutmeg Racing Pigeon Club, traveling to his cabin in Vermont, telling sea stories and making furniture in his workshop. Chester was a jack of all trades, was featured in motorcycle magazines in the 70’s for his rebuilt Indian Motorcycles and was recognized all around town during the same period in his hand built wooden body “green” jeep.
Chester is survived by his son, Eric, his wife, Shellie, and grandchildren, Andrew and Alyson of Chaplin; his daughter, Laura-Jean Nuno, her husband, Ed, and grandchildren, Justin and Chase of Coventry; his great-grandson Kaden; his many brothers and sisters in Vermont, Florida and Connecticut; his many nieces and nephews and his friends, too many to count, he made all over the world.