Henry Steve Stapleton

   Cause of his death was asphysia by drowning after boat overturned in the Comal River.¹

  General Notes:

Henry Steve Stapleton was a tall hard working man standing 6 foot 3 inches. A loving husband and father. He never met a stranger and believed in helping his fellow man whenever possible. At a young age his father died and he had to quit school and go to work to help provide for his family. He told many stories of having to shoot squirrels or hunt for quail to feed his family during the depression. He was a man who truly loved his family and would do anything for any of them.

It was on a fishing trip with his two youngest sons that he died on 16, May 1976. He had caught several channel catfish and was looking forward to a T-Bone steak when the waters of the Guadalupe River started to rise and capized his fishing boat. His boys did not know how to swim so he did everything he could to get them out of the increasing torrential water flow. He saved his twin's lives but lost his own struggle.

He served his country during World War II and won several medals, SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES LIBERATION GO 105 WD 45 ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL-JAPAN, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STARASIATIC- PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STAR, OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, VICTORY RIBBON, and the SHARPSHOOTER RIFLE. He was honorable discharged from the Army on 18 Novemeber 1944.

He was proprietor of a cedar post yard. His wife was the informant on the death certificate.

  Additional Information:

• Military Service: SSgt, US Army: World War II. Medals won:
SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES LIBERATION GO 105 WD 45 ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL-JAPAN, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STARASIATIC- PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STAR, OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, VICTORY RIBBON, and the SHARPSHOOTER RIFLE

• Alt. Birth: Rio Frio, Real County, Texas.

Henry married Grace Lester Lynn, daughter of David Riley Lynn and Mary Edna Whitehead.