Dr. Donald J. Chaputa, 83, of Allentown, died June 10, 2018, at Luther Crest personal care home, Allentown. He was the husband of Gloria I. (George) Chaputa for 59 years.

Born in Northampton, he was a son of the late Stephen and Julia (Shattuck) Chaputa.

He was a 1952 graduate of Whitehall High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Muhlenberg College in 1954 and a doctorate from the Pennsylvania School of Optometry, Philadelphia, in 1958.

He was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1961.

He opened a private practice in 1961, which became Chaputa & Drabick PC, Fullerton, in 1976. He retired after 41 years in 2001.

He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Allentown.

He was a past president of the Lehigh Valley Optometric Society and a former member of the Whitehall Junior Chamber of Commerce.

He was a charter member and treasurer of the Sky Scalers-Model Airplane Club. A hunting competition skeet and trap shooter, he was a past state champion in the 410 GA category. A military and Civil War buff, he was a Union Army lieutenant as a Lehigh Valley re-enactor.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Gregory S. and his wife Mia of Macungie; three daughters, Dr. Melanie M. and her husband Dr. Kenneth Cherry of State College, Carla A. and her husband Mark Wieand of Schnecksville and Nadine and her husband Arthur Mason of Coopersburg; a brother, James and his wife Cynthia of La Verne, Calif.; two sisters, Sonia and her husband Richard Sippel of Emmaus and Jeanne and her husband Robert Oyer of Sarasota, Fla.; and four grandchildren, Lauren, K.C., Eric and Allison.

Contributions may be made to St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Northampton, or St. Francis of Assisi Church, both c/o the funeral home, 2119 Washington Ave., Northampton, 18067.

Arrangements were made by Schisler Funeral Home Inc.