Thomas F. Staples (Tom), 81, of Lake Placid, FL left this earth August 29, 2020 with his wife by his side in the AdventHealth Sebring Hospital. He and Sandra were true companions who loved life together with their three faithful pups; Sukoshi, Panda, and Maude.
Born in York, Maine to Albert D. Staples and Josetta Gregory, Tom grew up with his four siblings in Eliot, Maine. He received his undergraduate college degree at the University of Maine in Orono and got his Master's Degree at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.
Tom served his country as an Army Captain during the Vietnam era. He was stationed at Okinawa, Japan, Ft Sill, Oklahoma, Ft Bliss, Texas, and the Army Air Defense Missile Base in Rehoboth Massachusetts, and Vietnam in 1965. During this time he was married to Judith Steadman and they raised their two children, Katherine A. Earley (Staples) and Thomas F. Staples Jr. He rarely spoke of his military experiences until later in life; hearing then of his highly secretive missile defense work was awe-inspiring. Perhaps those experiences led him to Law Enforcement work after leaving the military. Most of his working career was focused on being a Teacher and Counselor. He taught middle school on Pease Air Force Base and later at Portsmouth Middle School in NH. He was a tireless advocate for the National Education Association (NEA) and many hard-working teachers relied on his sharp negotiation skills on their behalf. During this time he lived in Kittery, Maine with his wife Jeanne Staples (Russell) and raised their daughter Wendy S. Staples (Buehrer). For 25 years he also served as an auxiliary police officer with the Portsmouth NH Police Department. Tom moved to sunny Florida in 1997 where he married Sandra Godwin Staples and started to enjoy a slower pace. He continued teaching and being a counselor in the Sebring School system, and took up bridge. He loved playing bridge with his local team in Sebring. Tom enjoyed traveling; Aruba, Sedona, and cruising the Caribbean were among his favorites. He was also proud of his role providing support to a famous Maine author. More than one novel features characters and events based on Tom's military and Law Enforcement background. His abilities and the family ties to this author got him mentioned most recently in "Sleeping Beauties".
He and Sandra made the most of their life in Florida and added three furry family members to their happy home. First was "Sukoshi", who Tom absolutely adored, and then her puppies Panda and Maude joined the family. All three pups were most happy being cuddled & pampered in Tom's lap. They were a great source of comfort as health issues began affecting his lifestyle.
Tom is survived by his wife of 23 years; Sandra Godwin Staples. Also by his daughter Katherine Earley and her husband Steven Earley of Babcock Ranch, FL, his son Thomas F. Staples Jr. and his wife Cheri Montgomery of Colorado Springs, CO, his daughter Wendy Buehrer and her husband Christopher Buehrer of McKinney, Texas, as well as his grandchildren Tyler Staples, Michael Buehrer, Matthew Buehrer, and Sydney Staples. Tom is also survived by his siblings Mary Alice Edmunds, James Staples, and Jane Styer. He was predeceased by his parents, Albert and Josetta Staples, and his sister Florence Dorr. Per his and the families wishes, there will be a private memorial at a later date. In 2021 a gathering will celebrate his life well-lived.