Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Albert Rainwater Chapple of Baton Rouge literally and figuratively died at age 87 ½ of a broken heart on July 18, 2026. He battled heart trouble for 31 years and the heartbreak of losing his wife of 65 years and his beloved daughter 16 months earlier.

Born in Cobbtown, Georgia, on Jan. 18, 1939, to Mary and Reverend William Edward Chapple II, Al was exceptionally smart, finishing high school at 17 and college at 20. He met the love of his life, Sylvia Dianne Higginbotham, at the University of Georgia; they married Sept. 12, 1959. After chemist and chemical engineering positions in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama, Al settled in Baton Rouge in 1969, working for Ciba-Geigy before founding a rental real estate company with Dianne.

Al retired in his early 60s and traveled the world with Dianne, especially loving cruises, RV camping and their lake house in Granbury, Texas. Al was born to be a Pop Pop, and there was not much he loved more than holding a sleeping baby. He was honest, hard-working, and content to be the quiet support beam for his family. He and Dianne rarely missed a grandchild's graduation or game. Square dancing led to making a group of wonderful friends who camped, traveled, and played cards and board games together. Al loved playing rummikub and kept a score book (he often won). Sequence was also a favorite and the grandkids will draw straws on who inherits his sequence board. Despite failing health, he attended his granddaughter Madison's wedding on April 24, 2026, Dianne's birthday. A lifelong Georgia football fan, he was thrilled by the Bulldogs' back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, and in his final years became a devoted Caitlin Clark fan — watching her lead a come-from-behind win by scoring 45 points with 10 assists to lead the Indiana Fever the night before he passed. Al was a member of Broadmoor United Methodist Church for 55 years, and his favorite verse was Psalms 23.

Al is preceded in death by his parents, Mary and William Chapple; brothers Billy and David Chapple; his wife, Dianne Chapple (March 26, 2025); and daughters Karen Lynn Chapple (infant) and Kimberly Chapple Henney (April 5, 2025). He is survived by two sons, Chris (Laurie) and Matthew (Michelle); nine grandchildren: Andrew (Whitney), Alexander (Elizabeth) and Caroline (Alex) Chapple, Nicholas (Emily), Daniel, David and Tiffany Henney, Madison Chapple Blocker (Mason) and Mason Chapple; and nine great-grandchildren: Evelyn, Abram, Alister and Archer Chapple, James and Millie Chapple, Hazel, Ida and Gwendolyn Henney.

Al grew up around the Macon, Georgia, area as his dad preached at different Methodist churches. His mom Mary was a school teacher and played piano for the church. Al spent several years living on a farm and could handle all the chores. Al was active in his churches, played flute, sang and always loved playing sports, especially basketball. He loved fishing and being outdoors. Al found peace and joy in God's outdoor creations. "I graduated college, got a job and married Dianne all within six weeks, so the summer of 1959 was really good," Al Chapple said. "I was making $110 per week for the Gillman Paper Company in Dianne's home town of St. Marys and that was good money at the time."

Al had a mechanical brain. He could fix most things. While in St. Marys and living in a trailer, Al bought a book about how to build a house and he built a 1,200 square foot house. The only thing he hired out was some of the plumbing, electrical and brickwork. "It was very exciting seeing the house built from the ground up," Al said.

Al was a big supporter of Chris, Kim and Matt as they all played basketball at Broadmoor High. Kim even played a game against Kim Mulkey's dominant Hammond High team. (The famous Kim won). Matt was the starting point guard on Broadmoor's Class 4A state championship team. Al coached some of the kids in summer leagues. Al and Dianne also helped lead the Broadmoor United Methodist Church Youth Group for two years in the 1970s. Chris, Kim and Matt all worked at Chapple Properties at some point.

Al had his first heart attack in 1995 and saw a heavenly light in a near death experience. "The light was absolutely beautiful," he said shortly after. Al also had two bypass surgeries in 1998 and 2001. He later had a Medtronic defibrillator implanted that saved him three times over the last 11 years. Al's heart cracked when Dianne passed, but was totally broken in pieces when he lost Kim. Al finally passed due to cardiac arrest.

Special thanks go to Al's doctors: cardiologist Dr. Stephen Gremillion, primary Dr. Brian Gremillion and ophthalmologist Dr. Jamie Hatcher. Al's long-time square dance/RV/card friends include Don and Carol Baxter, Susan Bordelon and the late Marguerite Wilton.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Broadmoor United Church, 10230 Mollylea Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70815. Visitation from 10:30 a.m. until shortly before the noon service begins. A reception will be held following the service. In lieu of flowers, please remember Al with a gift to Broadmoor United Methodist Church or the Baton Rouge Food Bank.

Reverend Leslie Hyacinth will preside and David Shaler will provide the music. Chris Chapple, Alexander Chapple, Daniel Henney and Madison Chapple will give eulogies. Nicklaus White will perform two solos, including Al's favorite "His Eye Is On The Sparrow." Al's ashes will be spread at a later date in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, in the same spots that Dianne's ashes were spread in 2025.