Kirby Stapleton

Kirby Roy Stapleton was a son of late William and Carrie Stapleton. He was the third oldest of a family of six children, four boys and two girls. He was born in Chillicothe, Missouri on September 28, 1917. When he was a baby he moved with his parents to the state of Iowa, near Neola. After six years, they all returned to Missouri and moved into the Lathrop, community in 1923, where he completed his grade school education and entered high school. He took an active part in all school activities and was elected Captain of the Lathrop Football team for his senior year, but did not serve as he entered a Civilian Conversation Corp for one year. He then returned and graduated with the class of 1937, the first class to graduate in the new Lathrop building. He desired to become a Coach of Athletics, and with that idea in mind attended Warrensburg Teachers College one year. He gave up his schooling to enlist in the Navy in October 1940. He received training as Apprentice Seaman at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. He requested to be on the same ship as his brother, Delbert, and so was assigned to the Pacific fleet. He was first on the U.S.S Tennessee then joined his brother on the U.S.S Oklahoma. He advanced to the rating of Seaman, First Class in 8 months. It was on this ship he lost his life in naval action in the defense of his country on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. He is survived by his Nephew Bob Stapleton and his wife Tess. A graveside service with full military honors will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at Riverside National Cemetery located at 22495 Van Buren Boulevard Riverside, California 92518.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.miller-jones.com