Louis H. Chappell, 93, of Paducah, passed away at 2:56 A.M. Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at Western Baptist Hospital.

Mr. Chappell is a graduate of Augusta Tilghman High School. He retired from M. Livingston and Company, a Paducah wholesale grocery business where he worked over 53 years and served as an office clerk, buyer, credit manager, corporate secretary and treasurer.

He was a veteran of the 3372nd Signal Service Battalion, Army Signal Corps. He received the EAME Theater Ribbon with 5 Bronze Stars, American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Ribbon and the Bronze Star Medal for outstanding services performed in time of war. Although his tour of duty took him throughout Europe, he is well known for the fact that on Dec. 17, 1944, Army Sgt. Louis Chappell helped rig a radio transmitter atop the 1,063 foot Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, to warn away Allied planes. He also scaled it with a sliver of home. He carried a key to his house around his neck along with his dogtags the whole time he was in the Army just to remind him where he really wanted to go as soon as possible.

When he arrived home on Oct. 26, 1945, in the middle of the night, his dog named “Tag” recognized him, stopped barking,  and he unlocked the door with that same key.

Mr. Chappell was a lifetime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where he served as financial secretary for over 27 years, former elder and historian of the church. He was also an avid hunter and a very talented wood craftsman.

He is survived by two daughters, Lydia May and Lisa Mitchell (Luke) of Paducah; five grandchildren, Ashley Chappell of Huntsville, AL., Audrey May, Olivia May, Palmer Louis Stroup, and Jacob Mitchell, all of Paducah; two nieces, Becky Scheer of Paducah and Karen Hoffarth of Knoxville, TN., and two nephews, Mike Chappell of Crossville, TN. and Tom Shaw of Paducah.

He was preceded by his wife, Dorothy Hudgens Chappell; his son, Louis H. Chappell Jr.; his brother, Ralph Chappell, and his sister, Anna Louise Shaw. His parents were Henry Guston and Lydia Schmidt Chappell.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, June 9, 2012, at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Rev. Corey Aker officiating.  Burial will follow in Beyer Cemetery.

Visitation for Mr. Chappell will be from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Friday at Milner and Orr Funeral Home of Paducah.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 211 S. 21st Street, Paducah Ky. 42003.

You may leave a message of condolence or light a candle at www.milnerandorr.com.