William A. Chatmon Jr., a retired federal equal opportunity specialist, died of cancer Sunday at Keswick Multi-Care Center. The North Baltimore resident was 80.

He retired in 1990 from the Federal Highway Administration in Washington, where he worked for about 15 years. He had earlier been a quality control officer for Slaysman Co., a machine shop near Little Italy.

Born in Baltimore and known as Chappie, he was raised on West Lanvale Street and graduated in 1941 from Douglass High School. He attended what is now Morgan State University.

During World War II, he served in the Army and was stationed in Germany. He was squad leader of an infantry rifle team that won regimental honors.

He was a lifelong member of Union Baptist Church, which honored him as Father of the Year, Deacon of the Year and Man of the Year. He also performed the role of the Rev. Big John in a church play, The Slabtown Convention. Among other church efforts, he had been first vice chairman of the deacon board, sang in the choir and worked in a children's after-school recreation center.

Services will be held at noon Tuesday at the church, 1219 Druid Hill Ave.

Survivors include his wife of 27 years, the former Evelyn J. Jarrett; five daughters, Barbara Busby, Joyce Chatmon, Linda Thornton, Roslyn Leighton and Gaye Lewis, all of Baltimore; a brother, Lorenzo Felder of Baltimore; a stepson, Joseph James Jr. of Baltimore; a stepdaughter, Michelle James of Chicago; 16 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A previous marriage to Pearl Ann Wallace ended in divorce.