Dodge City – Walter E. Stapleton, 91, died February 18, 2012, at Hays Medical Center, Hays.

He was born September 5, 1920, in Plains, Colorado, the son of Edward and Mary Schlereth Stapleton. He was a farmer/rancher/mechanic. He served in the United States Army in the European Theater WWII.

He belonged to Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Knights of Columbus, V.F.W., American Legion, DAV, Hodgeman and Ford County Historical Societies past township member and trustee for South Roscoe township, a 4-H leader and a past school board member.

On October 28, 1942, he married Maxine Faulkner at Dodge City. She survives.

Other survivors include: two sons, George E. and wife Mindy Stapleton, Dodge City, Robert L. and wife Terri Stapleton, Cimarron; three daughters, Shirley Y. and husband Leonard Hoskinson, Dodge city, Patricia L. and husband Duane Van Dolah, Garden City, Deanna M. and husband Roger Myers, Larned; one brother, Henry Stapleton, Dodge City; nine grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild; three step grandchildren, nine step great grandchildren, four step great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Harold E. Stapleton; three brothers, Elmer, Alex, and George; three sisters, Lucille Abscheer, Aileen Lee, and Ida Kreger.

Vigil will be at 7p.m. Wednesday, February 22, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Jetmore. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City, with Father Ted Skalsky presiding. Visitation will be from 9a.m. to 8p.m. Tuesday and 9a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore. Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery West, Dodge City, with Military Rites conducted by Howard Gotschall Post #1714 V.F.W.

Memorials may be sent to the Dodge City Senior Center in care of the Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663, Jetmore, Ks 67854.