1926
William
2016
William Robert "Bob" Stapleton Lt Col Usaf (Ret)
January 22, 1926 — August 27, 2016
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- William Robert "Bob" Stapleton, Lt Col USAF (Ret), 90, passed away Saturday, August 27, 2016 at his home in North Richland Hills.
Funeral: 11:15 a.m. Graveside service, Wednesday August 31, 2016 at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst.
Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society Research Dept., 12850 Spurling Drive, Dallas, Texas 75230.
Bob spent a wonderful childhood in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He graduated from high school and attended the University of Arkansas. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and was a tail gunner in the South Pacific from New Guinea to Tokyo. In 1946 he was a Master Sgt. when discharged and returned to Fayetteville to the University of Arkansas graduating in 1949.
Thirty days after graduation he was called to active duty by the United States Air Force. This time he was an officer who went to navigator training. Korea was the hot spot when he flew combat for which he earned the Distinguish Flying Cross. During the Cold War he continued to fly the latest types of aircraft, attended various military schools, and received his Master's degree in Economics from the University of North Dakota while stationed at Grand Forks AFB, MD. When Vietnam escalated he was an operation planner, and he was a navigator on a KC-135.
Bob Retired from the Air Force in 1968. He starting a teaching career at Amarillo High and L.D. Bell High teaching economics.
It continued until retirement in 2000. Many honors were bestowed upon him during this period. He said that he never had a Job because every day was fun. Bob found pleasure in his church through Stephen Ministries and teaching. His legacy will never die, it will continue through the lives of his students and their heirs.
He married the love of his life Betty who preceded him after a battle with Leukemia.
Survivors: He leaves a very supporting family: Son Mark Phillip Stapleton and wife Claudia; and step-son Glen Holcomb and wife Candice; daughter, Christy Ann Stapleton Blake and husband Paul; sister, Virginia Garneau; grandchildren, Austin Blake, Wendy Blake Frick and husband Max, Brandon Holcomb (US Marines) and Travis Holcomb; great grandchildren, Hannah and Caleb Frick.
Lucas Funeral Home
Hurst, 817-284-7271
Funeral: 11:15 a.m. Graveside service, Wednesday August 31, 2016 at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst.
Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society Research Dept., 12850 Spurling Drive, Dallas, Texas 75230.
Bob spent a wonderful childhood in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He graduated from high school and attended the University of Arkansas. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and was a tail gunner in the South Pacific from New Guinea to Tokyo. In 1946 he was a Master Sgt. when discharged and returned to Fayetteville to the University of Arkansas graduating in 1949.
Thirty days after graduation he was called to active duty by the United States Air Force. This time he was an officer who went to navigator training. Korea was the hot spot when he flew combat for which he earned the Distinguish Flying Cross. During the Cold War he continued to fly the latest types of aircraft, attended various military schools, and received his Master's degree in Economics from the University of North Dakota while stationed at Grand Forks AFB, MD. When Vietnam escalated he was an operation planner, and he was a navigator on a KC-135.
Bob Retired from the Air Force in 1968. He starting a teaching career at Amarillo High and L.D. Bell High teaching economics.
It continued until retirement in 2000. Many honors were bestowed upon him during this period. He said that he never had a Job because every day was fun. Bob found pleasure in his church through Stephen Ministries and teaching. His legacy will never die, it will continue through the lives of his students and their heirs.
He married the love of his life Betty who preceded him after a battle with Leukemia.
Survivors: He leaves a very supporting family: Son Mark Phillip Stapleton and wife Claudia; and step-son Glen Holcomb and wife Candice; daughter, Christy Ann Stapleton Blake and husband Paul; sister, Virginia Garneau; grandchildren, Austin Blake, Wendy Blake Frick and husband Max, Brandon Holcomb (US Marines) and Travis Holcomb; great grandchildren, Hannah and Caleb Frick.
Lucas Funeral Home
Hurst, 817-284-7271
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