Bertha Dale Chaplin

Bertha Dale Chaplin, 89, of Luray, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Page Memorial Hospital.

She was born on November 2, 1936, at her grandparents’ house in Page County, which is now part of the Shenandoah National Forest/Skyline Drive. She was the only child of the late Edward Aleshire and Mattie Elizabeth Sours Aleshire Purcell.

In 1955, Bertha moved to Washington, DC, to work for the State Department and served with the United States Marine Corps Reserves. 

On September 5, 1959, she married Ollie Hutton Chaplin of Shenandoah, Virginia. After marrying and having children, she was active with her children’s schools and participated in the homemakers club. She liked doing crafts and social events.

Later in life, she assisted trucking companies in obtaining government contracts, during which she enjoyed traveling and meeting people across the country. She remained in Northern Virginia until 2001, when she moved back to Page County.

In recent years, Bertha’s favorite thing to do was to participate in the Page County Senior Center program.

Bertha is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Snider of Luray; a son, Drew Chaplin of Arlington; three half-sisters, Connie Mae Connolly of Hallsville, TX, Julie Ann Ramey of Luray, VA, and Anda Rae White of Surfside Beach, SC; a step-sister, Mary L. Beachy of Greenwood, Delaware; 2 grandsons, Mason Snider; and Travis Snider, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her son-in-law, Mark Snider; her stepfather, Andrew L. Purcell Sr.; five step-sisters, Betty Polite, Gertrude Sapp, Maxine Yoder, Grace Sullivan and Mildred Weyant; and five step-brothers, Andrew L. Purcell Jr., C. Armour Purcell, David Purcell, Donald Purcell and Stephen Purcell.

Services are set for Wednesday, April 8, at 11 a.m. at the Luray VFW Comer-Jones Post 621 at 218 Veterans Lane, Luray, VA 22835. The family will be there at 10:30 a.m. to receive visitors, and a luncheon will follow the service.

In place of flowers, donations can be made to the Page County Senior Center at 10 2nd Street, Luray, VA 22835. 

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