Obituary for Howard Marshall Stapleton
Howard Stapleton 5/30/1938 - 11/17/2021
Our hearts our heavy with the loss of our Howard. While stretching in preparation for a workout with his trainer, his aorta ruptured. Everyone thought he would live to be 100.
Howard Marshall Stapleton was born in Rutland, Vermont and grew up with two brothers close in age who are predeceased, and a younger sister and brother. He was half Italian. After graduation from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, Connecticut, he enlisted in the Air Force, spending most of his time as a control tower operator. Passionate about flying, Howard obtained his commercial pilot’s license and loved flying while living in Southern California. After his service in the Air Force, he worked for several years in the aerospace industry in Southern California which fueled his lifelong interest in space exploration and the universe in general. In 1974 he earned his AA degree in business from El Camino College.
In 1975 Howard married Margo, and they moved from Hermosa Beach, California, to Snowmass Village, Colorado, where he worked in property management as a condo complex resident manager.
In 1978 Howard and Margo bought a four acre hobby farm in Peach Valley. It was Howard’s labor of love for the next 43 years. He could do everything from pruning trees, building fences, installing floors, tending irrigation - you name it - he could design, build, and fix it. He singlehandedly built a log home on the property. It took a few years because he was busy working, and he and Margo were raising their son, Stuart. During this time he taught skiing part time for a few years. Some kids he taught thought his name was Powered - fitting because he powered through life. He was employed full time as a draftsman for various civil engineering firms; the latest was Sopris Engineering from which he retired in 2013. His work ethic was second to none.
Howard proudly served two terms on the Garfield Re-2 school board from 1999 to 2007. Howard enjoyed skiing, tennis, pickle ball, ping pong, riding his e-bike, and a few cruises. He enjoyed reffing Stuart’s soccer games and attending all his sports and music events.
The log cabin was Howard’s pride and joy. Beginning in 2015, Howard and Margo hosted over 1,000 Airbnb guests at “Peach Valley Retreat”. He and his dog, Kona, his beloved Aussie, would often enjoy the view from the cabin porch.
Also in 2015, Howard began a new career - driving busses for RFTA - not with wings in the air but with wheels on the ground. He took pride in this job, and according to CEO Dan Blankenship, he was one of the best ambassadors with the public that RFTA ever employed.
Howard is profoundly missed by his wife Margo of New Castle, CO; sons Scott (Verna) of Grand Junction, CO, Stuart of Nashville, TN, and daughter Tracey Conlogue (Richard) of Santa Ana, CA; grandchildren Charleen Rode (Dylan) of Cayucos, CA, Courtney Conlogue of Santa Ana, CA, and Ryan Conlogue of Huntington Beach, CA; sister Candy Tierney (Jim) of Chesterfield, MO; niece Erin Rimkus (Matt) and grandnephew Ryan of Chesterfield, MO; brother Will Brinker (Linda) of Great Barrington, MA; and brother-in-law Stephen Glenn (Donna) of Chesterfield, MO.
Howard will be remembered for his energy, upbeat attitude, infectious laugh, engaging smile, affable personality, virtuous ethics, and gentlemanly good nature. His pride in his family and his love for them was beyond measure. He lives in the hearts of all who loved him.
Our hearts our heavy with the loss of our Howard. While stretching in preparation for a workout with his trainer, his aorta ruptured. Everyone thought he would live to be 100.
Howard Marshall Stapleton was born in Rutland, Vermont and grew up with two brothers close in age who are predeceased, and a younger sister and brother. He was half Italian. After graduation from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, Connecticut, he enlisted in the Air Force, spending most of his time as a control tower operator. Passionate about flying, Howard obtained his commercial pilot’s license and loved flying while living in Southern California. After his service in the Air Force, he worked for several years in the aerospace industry in Southern California which fueled his lifelong interest in space exploration and the universe in general. In 1974 he earned his AA degree in business from El Camino College.
In 1975 Howard married Margo, and they moved from Hermosa Beach, California, to Snowmass Village, Colorado, where he worked in property management as a condo complex resident manager.
In 1978 Howard and Margo bought a four acre hobby farm in Peach Valley. It was Howard’s labor of love for the next 43 years. He could do everything from pruning trees, building fences, installing floors, tending irrigation - you name it - he could design, build, and fix it. He singlehandedly built a log home on the property. It took a few years because he was busy working, and he and Margo were raising their son, Stuart. During this time he taught skiing part time for a few years. Some kids he taught thought his name was Powered - fitting because he powered through life. He was employed full time as a draftsman for various civil engineering firms; the latest was Sopris Engineering from which he retired in 2013. His work ethic was second to none.
Howard proudly served two terms on the Garfield Re-2 school board from 1999 to 2007. Howard enjoyed skiing, tennis, pickle ball, ping pong, riding his e-bike, and a few cruises. He enjoyed reffing Stuart’s soccer games and attending all his sports and music events.
The log cabin was Howard’s pride and joy. Beginning in 2015, Howard and Margo hosted over 1,000 Airbnb guests at “Peach Valley Retreat”. He and his dog, Kona, his beloved Aussie, would often enjoy the view from the cabin porch.
Also in 2015, Howard began a new career - driving busses for RFTA - not with wings in the air but with wheels on the ground. He took pride in this job, and according to CEO Dan Blankenship, he was one of the best ambassadors with the public that RFTA ever employed.
Howard is profoundly missed by his wife Margo of New Castle, CO; sons Scott (Verna) of Grand Junction, CO, Stuart of Nashville, TN, and daughter Tracey Conlogue (Richard) of Santa Ana, CA; grandchildren Charleen Rode (Dylan) of Cayucos, CA, Courtney Conlogue of Santa Ana, CA, and Ryan Conlogue of Huntington Beach, CA; sister Candy Tierney (Jim) of Chesterfield, MO; niece Erin Rimkus (Matt) and grandnephew Ryan of Chesterfield, MO; brother Will Brinker (Linda) of Great Barrington, MA; and brother-in-law Stephen Glenn (Donna) of Chesterfield, MO.
Howard will be remembered for his energy, upbeat attitude, infectious laugh, engaging smile, affable personality, virtuous ethics, and gentlemanly good nature. His pride in his family and his love for them was beyond measure. He lives in the hearts of all who loved him.