Henry Francis Stapleton

Henry Francis Stapleton

Gilmanton, NH - Henry (Hank) Francis Stapleton, our Bumpa, died at home on August 6, 2023. He was born October 10, 1930, the fourth of five children of Edmond J. and Helen (O'Dell) Stapleton. He was born and raised in Pittsfield, graduating in the PHS class of 1948. Prior to enlisting in the Air Force in 1951, he worked for his father at the Suncook Valley Railroad and Suncook Valley Transportation Company, driving busses between Pittsfield and Concord as well as any odd job that needed doing. In the Air Force, he was stationed in Texas, New York and Oklahoma. He spent 1953 in Korea. He was honorably discharged, with the rank of Staff Sargent.

He returned to Pittsfield in 1955 and was named acting postmaster, in Pittsfield, in 1956. He married Marjorie Dustin, our GG, in 1957 and was named postmaster while on his honeymoon. During his postal career he was a member of NAPUS and past president of the NH Chapter of NAPUS. He held the position of postmaster until his retirement in 1985. In retirement, he was the Secretary, Treasurer and Superintendent of the Pittsfield Aqueduct Company. He also drove school busses for Marston Transportation.

He and GG raised their family in Pittsfield. In 1994, they began spending their winters in Bradenton, Florida, though Bumpa would always fly home in March to attend Town Meeting, and get some plowing in. In 2005, they relocated to Gilmanton, NH.

In addition to his postal duties, Hank was active in his community. He served on the Pittsfield School Board, 1960-1969. He was also the School Moderator and Town Moderator for many years. He served two terms in the NH House (1990-1994), alongside his sister Mary C. Holmes. He was an active member of the American Legion Peterson Cram Post #75 for over 65 years, and had the honor of serving as Post Commander, as did both of his brothers. He was a past president and Paul Harris Fellow of the Pittsfield Rotary Club. He was a Director of Pittsfield National Bank. He was named Pittsfield's Citizen of the Year for 1988.

He was an avid candlepin bowler and loved playing tennis. He especially enjoyed the doubles matches he and his son played against Doc and Ann Carpenter on Thursty Hill. He was a member of the NH Umpires Association and umpired high school baseball games for over 25 years.

He was a lifetime communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsfield, having been baptized, received his first communion, confirmed and married there.

He is survived by his three children; Jim (Sally) Stapleton, Julie (Keith) Couch and Sarah (Rich) HIllsgrove, and his six grandchildren Lexy (Dylan) Freni, Ben Couch, Connor and Jackson (Autumn) Hillsgrove, and Reed and Ian Stapleton; his sister Pat Smith, his sister-in-law Millie Dustin, a dear friend June Valentyn, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, and his siblings Edmond, Mary and John. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes on August 26 at 10:00 AM with burial following at Floral Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Pittsfield Historical Society or the Gilmanton Firefighters Association.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday August 26 at 10am at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Pittsfield.

Burial with funeral honors will follow in the Floral Park Cemetery, Pittsfield

The Waters Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.