Obituary of Felipe Angel Chapa

On Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Scottsdale, AZ, our loving Father, Felipe A. Chapa was called home and went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God, Our Heavenly Father in Heaven at the age of 76. Felipe was born on Jan. 9, 1945 in Hebbronville, TX to Maria Aida Trevino and Manuel Chapa. He was the oldest in his family and he took his role of being the big brother very seriously. Throughout his life he was very involved in his extended family’s care and helped them in any way he could. In June 1964, he married the love of his life, Victoria Rejino. On his birthday in 1966, they welcomed their first daughter Cynthia. Later that same year, they welcomed their second daughter Patricia. In mid 1967 Felipe and Victoria moved to California where they would eventually settle in Gridley. He often said Mom cried the entire the way, but they knew there was a better life waiting for them. In June 1969, their son Philip was born and their family was complete. Felipe was a hard worker and throughout his life took extreme pride in everything he did. He worked in the Biggs area as a farmer in the rice industry driving tractors and lasers to ready the land for planting and harvest. He worked at Chico San, which later became Quaker Oats in Gridley as a machine operator and was very mechanically gifted. At one point in 1995 he was asked to go to Missouri to help train the new machine operator employees at the new Quaker Oats Facility there. His last position found him at Walmart Chico in the maintenance department. Felipe’s biggest pride and joy was his love for his family. He retired from Walmart to care for his beloved Victoria who was diagnosed with early onset dementia. Even though he couldn’t work, he never stopped trying to come up with ways to stay busy and always had a business idea he was working on. He was an entrepreneur and Shark Tank would’ve loved some of his ideas. When Victoria needed full time care, they moved to Colorado where she passed away in 2013. Shortly thereafter he returned to Gridley and then moved to AZ in 2015 to be near his daughter Patricia. He loved talking about his family and cars, especially his 1956 Chevy Bel Air. The first car he bought at 16 years old and spent a lot of his time restoring. Felipe was a man who said what he meant and meant what he said. Those that knew him, either liked him a lot or not at all…and he was ok with that. Felipe was a Father, Brother, Uncle, and Grandfather. He is survived by his daughters Cynthia Harmel (Scott), Patricia Collins (Mark) and son Philip Chapa, his sisters Rosa Perez (Jose) and Juanita Arevalo (Wilman), grandchildren Ashli, Charlie and Drew Collins, Travis, Mallory and Aubrey Harmel and Tayla, Calissa, Caleb and Derek Chapa. There are also other numerous siblings, nieces and nephews. Waiting in anticipation for him in heaven are his true love Victoria Chapa, and his siblings Manuel Chapa Jr., Teofilo “Toby” Trevino, Santos Rodriguez and Linda Arias. The viewing, vigil and Rosary will be held on Wednesday, May 26th starting at 3pm at Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel. His funeral service will be on Thursday, May 27th at 1pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Gridley with graveside burial following at the Gridley-Biggs Cemetery. Dad, thank you for everything you did for us and all the sacrifices you made and for loving us! We love you and rest in peace Dad. Arrangements entrusted to Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel.