1912
Charles
2007
Charles Staples
July 11, 1912 — October 27, 2007
Woody Staples, 95, of Kansas City, KS passed away October 27, 2007 at his home. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, October 31st at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS. Burial in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Kansas City, KS. Visitation will be 6-8 P.M., Tuesday, October 30th at the D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the NRA-ILA, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 or Quail Unlimited, Inc., 31 Quail Run, Edgefield, SC 29824.
Woody was born and raised in Parker, KS, and after graduation from high school, made his way to Kansas City, MO with his mother and brothers and sisters to carve out a living during the tough years of the thirties. When his country called during WWII, Woody proudly served as a B-24 tailgunner in the 44th Bomb Group, 68th Squadron, 8th Air Force, flying a total of 41 missions over Europe, including daylight bombing runs over Berlin and the harrowing raids over the oil fields of Ploeste. He reached the rank of staff sergeant, earning the Air Medal with four oakleaf clusters and a Distinguished Unit Citation. After the war Woody came back to the Kansas City metro area for a few years, and then worked briefly in Utah before returning to Kansas City, KS with his wife Rosalpha and young son Rick. Woody retired after many years with Bond and Taystee bread companies, and started a second career in pest control in 1973, working well into his eighties and early nineties. In 1973 he also married again, a wonderful lady named Pauline Lillich, enjoying an immediate expansion of his family with the addition of four stepsons and a stepdaughter, who blessed him and Pauline with many grandchildren. The Lillich children were a constant source of enjoyment and pride for Woody.
An avid sportsman, Woody was a devoted skeet shooter and quail hunter, enjoying many hours afield with friends. One of his greatest pleasures was watching a good dog work. He will be sorely missed by the Sunday morning skeet club, aka, the Church of the Broken Rock.
He leaves behind many that he has mentored, entertained, educated and blessed. He is survived by his son Rick Staples (Linda); his older sister LaVaughan Emmons, stepsons Roy Lillich (Jeanette), Charlie Lillich (Lemoine) and Don Lillich (Bonnie), and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews on the Staples side of the family.
"The Tailgunner has rejoined the crew."
Woody was born and raised in Parker, KS, and after graduation from high school, made his way to Kansas City, MO with his mother and brothers and sisters to carve out a living during the tough years of the thirties. When his country called during WWII, Woody proudly served as a B-24 tailgunner in the 44th Bomb Group, 68th Squadron, 8th Air Force, flying a total of 41 missions over Europe, including daylight bombing runs over Berlin and the harrowing raids over the oil fields of Ploeste. He reached the rank of staff sergeant, earning the Air Medal with four oakleaf clusters and a Distinguished Unit Citation. After the war Woody came back to the Kansas City metro area for a few years, and then worked briefly in Utah before returning to Kansas City, KS with his wife Rosalpha and young son Rick. Woody retired after many years with Bond and Taystee bread companies, and started a second career in pest control in 1973, working well into his eighties and early nineties. In 1973 he also married again, a wonderful lady named Pauline Lillich, enjoying an immediate expansion of his family with the addition of four stepsons and a stepdaughter, who blessed him and Pauline with many grandchildren. The Lillich children were a constant source of enjoyment and pride for Woody.
An avid sportsman, Woody was a devoted skeet shooter and quail hunter, enjoying many hours afield with friends. One of his greatest pleasures was watching a good dog work. He will be sorely missed by the Sunday morning skeet club, aka, the Church of the Broken Rock.
He leaves behind many that he has mentored, entertained, educated and blessed. He is survived by his son Rick Staples (Linda); his older sister LaVaughan Emmons, stepsons Roy Lillich (Jeanette), Charlie Lillich (Lemoine) and Don Lillich (Bonnie), and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews on the Staples side of the family.
"The Tailgunner has rejoined the crew."
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