Pamela Bays Chaplin

Pamela Ruth Bays Chaplin, 81, died on March 24, 2025 at home in Arlington, Texas surrounded by her husband and children. A native Kentuckian, Pamela (Pam) found herself born in Baltimore, Maryland while her father studied medicine at Johns Hopkins University during World War II. The oldest child of four and only daughter, she was born to Ruby Allen Bays and Claud Miller Bays on October 16, 1943. The first few years of her life were spent traveling with her mother to the coasts to meet her father stationed on board ship as a naval medical doctor. In the in-between times, she grew up as the beloved granddaughter of two sets of grandparents in Breathitt and Floyd Counties in Eastern Kentucky. When she was 5 years old her family made their home in Lexington, Kentucky where she and her brothers grew up.

It was in Lexington as a 9th grader at Lafayette High School that Pam met Michael (Mike) Chaplin. She won the girls’ science award, and Mike won the boys’ science award. While Mike remembers meeting her at the award ceremony, Pam mostly remembered her beautiful dress. That changed, however, as they became good friends, attending a Beatnik party in the 10th grade and then sitting next to each other (seated alphabetically by last name) in 11th grade English class. They attended their high school proms together and kept their love alive through long letters through all four years of college. Pam graduated from Colorado College in May 1965 with a Bachelors of Arts in English and three weeks later married Michael Chaplin in the Danforth Chapel at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky.

In the early years of her marriage, Pam worked as a librarian in the libraries of Rutgers and Michigan State universities while her husband, Mike completed his masters and doctoral degrees. They arrived in Corvallis, Oregon on December 13, 1968 (a Friday) when Mike took a faculty job with Oregon State University. Pam always said that Friday the 13ths were lucky days since she and Mike loved their Corvallis years. It was in Corvallis that Pam and Mike’s three daughters were born, and Pam established herself as an excellent mother to her girls and talented partner to her husband. She not only raised her children, but she also collaborated with Mike, serving as a warm and welcoming hostess to many in their home. She welcomed university amateur radio students, horticulture faculty, staff, and students over the next 35 years, making them feel at home and loved. She accentuated her hospitality with her cooking and baking skills—in particular, she was known for her cherry pies and other delectable desserts.

Pam moved with her family multiple times, following Mike’s career. Along with Corvallis, she made a welcoming home at a jungle experiment station in Malaysia, neighborhoods in State College, Pennsylvania and Ames, Iowa, and a farm orchard experiment station in Hood River, Oregon. In addition to working as a mother and wife, Pam studied art (printmaking) at Penn State University, volunteered as an amateur radio operator (W7SSO), worked as a proofreader at Penn State Publications and the Iowa State Daily, a secretary at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Ames, and lastly as an editor at Needlework Retailer in Ames. Also, for a couple of years she ran a home baking business, Saltbox Savories, making the very popular blueberry coffeecake sold at Stomping Grounds Cafe in Ames.

In 2004, Pam and Mike moved to Bellingham, Washington and enjoyed their retirement in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Pam worked on sewing projects, cared for her cats and loved going on picnics by the beach with Mike. During those years in Bellingham, she prepared for her grandchildren’s visits, stocking their home with special toys and activities. Then, in 2020, she and Mike moved to Arlington, Texas to live near one of their daughters when her health declined.

Pamela is survived by her husband of 59 years, Michael Chaplin, three daughters: Laura Prince, Jennifer Anhalt (Tad), Sarah Walters (Kevin), 6 grandchildren: Eryn Prince, Audrey Anhalt, Evelyn Anhalt, Michael Anhalt, Samuel Walters, and Lillian Walters, as well as her three brothers: Claud Bays, Robert Bays, and John Bays and their families. Her family would be remiss if they did not mention her cat, Buddy, who stayed consistently by her side, even after her death. He was a true friend to Pam. A small service for Pam will be held later this year in the summer in Lexington, Kentucky.