Benjamin "Gene" Stapp

STAPP, Benjamin "Gene," 82, passed away peacefully at Florida Hospital Heartland in Sebring, Fla., June 21, 2009. He was born in Bedford, Ind., November 14, 1926, to Florence and Carl Stapp. He was predeceased by his parents; his twin sister, Jeanette Holmes; and sister, Helen Harris. He leaves his wife of 38 years, Gay, of Sebring; son, Jim (Deb) Stapp; daughters, April Collins and Kim (Mike) Vest, all from Indiana; sister, Pat (Jim) Morrisette of Denver, Colo., and brother, Jack (Wanda) Stapp of Speedway, Ind. Also surviving are four grandchildren, one step-grandchild, one great-grandchild, several nieces and nephews and dear family friend, Blanche Chafe. Known as Geno to his friends, he was of the Methodist faith and attended St. John' s United Methodist Church. A proud and loyal Hoosier, he made Florida his second home for many years and became a permanent Sebring resident in 2003. He was an avid basketball fan and Indy and Nascar racing was his passion. A golfer, he always enjoyed his golf outings with the Whisper Lake Crew. Gene was a U.S. Navy veteran, a retired firefighter with 20 years of service on the Bedford, Indiana Fire Department, and also was a General Motors retiree. He was a life member of the American Legion, Gillen Post 33, Bedford; a life member of the AmVets Post 2; the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 728; VFW Post 1686, charter member Oolitic, Ind.; and a member of the Moose Lodge 2494; and the 40/8 Voiture 899, both in Avon Park, Fla. He will be sadly missed by all. A visitation will take place 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, at Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home on Sebring Parkway, immediately followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. in the chapel and interment at Lakeview Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Humane Society of Highlands County or the American Lung Association of Florida would be appreciated. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home Sebring, Fla. (863) 385-0125