Herbert J. Staples, Jr. Obituary (1931

LINCOLNVILLE - Herbert J. Staples, Jr., 78, died Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at the Knox Center in Rockland, after a long illness.Born in Rockland, October 13, 1931, he was the son of Herbert J., Sr. and Jessie E. Poland Staples. He was educated in Rockland schools.In earlier years he worked as a truck driver and lobstering.October 23, 1952, he enlisted in the United States Army, and after basic training, served in Korea as a Squad Leader with Company L of the 14th Infantry Regiment. Upon his honorable discharge from active duty, Herbert continued in service to his country, enlisting in the Army National Guard of Maine, where he served until April 23, 1959.December 31, 1955, he married Sonja Marie Carlson in Rockland. The couple spent the first seven years of their marriage in Rockland and in 1963 moved to Camden. In 1988, they moved to a new home Herbert built in Lincolnville, where they have since resided.After returning from active military duty, he worked several years at Sears Roebuck & Company in Rockland, and several years with Maine Coast Construction in Camden. He went on his own in the construction business, doing carpentry in the local area. He retired at the age of 63 after completeing construction of a home for his son and his family.He was known as a 'jack-of-all-trades", who could fix or make anything and always did his own vehicle maintenance. These skills he passed on to his own family. He was fastidious about keeping journals of the "goings on" with the weather and family events, which have since become special keepsakes for the family.Snowmobiling and hunting downeast were favorite pastimes for Herbert. He also enjoyed conversing on his CB radio, using the radio handle "Hammer Head".Other than his parents, Herbert was pre-deceased by one brother, Paul Staples. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sonja of Lincolnville; two sons, Herbert J. Staples, III and his wife Sheila of Rockland, Robert W. Staples and his companion Sharon Smalley of Warren; three daughters, Susan H. Lewis and her companion Bruce Widdecombe of Hope, Deborah J. Brown and her husband Earle of Lincolnville, Alissa "Lisa" L. Staples and her companion Wade Thibodeau of Camden; a brother, George J. Staples and his wife Linda of Florida; a sister, Bessie "Betty" Collomore and her husband Gilbert of Bremen; seven grandchildren, Mandy Carter, Samantha Staples, Jason Taylor, Christopher Brown, Lindsey Brown, Jessica Johnson, Mathew Thibodeau; and one great-grandchild, Alana Eve Fancy, as well as several nieces and nephews.Friends and relatives are invited to visit from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, October 26, 2009, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday. Interment will follow in Achorn Cemetery, Old County Road, Rockland.Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter, 170 Route One, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105.