Dr. Earle “Ben“ H. Staples, Jr., 97, died Sunday, September 26, 2021, in Raleigh, NC after a period of declining health. Except for the last few years, he was a lifelong resident of Keene, New Hampshire, born there August 28, 1924, as the son of Earle H. Staples, Sr, and Wilma I. (Scales) Staples.
Dr. Staples’ attendance at Dartmouth College was interrupted by WWII, and after returning from the war in 1946, he completed Tufts University Dental School in 1950. He practiced dentistry in Keene for 37 years, retiring in 1987.
He was married to Norma Lorandeau for 47 years until her death in 1996; and he later was married to Ann Brown Dinkel until her death in 2008.
Dr. Staples was a member of the United Church of Christ in Keene and associate member of the Saint Andrew United Church in Sarasota, where he and his wife Ann spent the wintertime.
Dr. Staples involvement in local organizations showed his civic commitment. He was involved in the Monadnock Region Dental Society (president), the New Hampshire Dental Society (trustee), Delta Sigma Delta, an international dental fraternity (life membership), New Hampshire Golf Association, and a 70-year member of the Keene Country Club (president). The Keene Lions Club (president) named him a Melvin Jones Fellow of the Lions Club International Foundation; the highest honor conferred by the Foundation. He was also involved in the Lodge of the Elks (life member) and the Keene American Legion Post 4.
Ben loved fishing, hunting, snowshoeing and just walking in the woods. During high school he considered becoming a conservation officer.
Survivors include his son, Earle H. Staples III and wife Judy Colditz of Raleigh, NC and his daughter Cynthia H. Hirsch and husband P. Thomas Hirsch of Jackson, WY and his stepson, John “Jay“ Dinkel and wife Toni Dinkel of Amherst, NH. Additionally, six grandchildren survive him: Christian Staples, Suzanne Staples Ledwith, Matthew Hirsch, Sarah Hirsch, Jennifer Dinkel-Jones and Patricia Dinkel as well as four great grandchildren. His sister, Francella, died in 2015.
A memorial service with military honors will be help on Friday, July 22, 2022 at 11:00 am at The United Church of Christ, 23 Central Square, Keene, NH. Burial was held previously at Monadnock View Cemetery, Keene, NH.
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