Wendell Stapleton

Wendell Stapleton, 95, of Union City, Indiana, passed away on November 5, 2021. Graveside services and burial will be held Thursday, November 11th at 2:00pm at Wells Cemetery, Esserville, Virginia. A celebration of life will be held in Union City, IN at a later date.

Wendell was born in Wise County, Virginia on October 27, 1926, during the height of the Great Depression. One of eleven children, his early life was spent in the Pardee Coal Camp. He was drafted into the Army at age 18 and proudly served during World War II. A Staff Sergeant with the 27th Infantry Division, Asiatic Pacific Theater stationed in Okinawa, Japan during 1945-1946.

On June 14, 1945, he married Annabelle Kilgore. Once his military service was completed, he brought his young family north to Indiana in search of a better life. He spent the next four decades working at Sheller-Globe, retiring in 1988. Despite working long hours as a supervisor, Wendell was involved in his community as a member of the Masonic Lodge, Elks Lodge, Eagles, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he shared many laughs and formed deep friendships.

In the latter years of his life, he was a huge fan of the Union City Lady Indians Volleyball and Basketball Teams spending many hours attending all games to cheer them on. He loved the Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs, "The Facebook," watching The Price is Right, attending family gatherings, and celebrating birthdays, especially his own.

Despite living on Howard Street for most of his life, he kept tabs on Wise County and longed to return. In his final days, he spoke fondly of his childhood and Army service, as well as the life he’d built for his family in Indiana. Even when his memories began to betray him, he never forgot the places that shaped him or the people that mattered most.

Wendell was preceded in death by his wife, Annabelle Stapleton; his daughter Montie Fallis; his mother, Jane Bledsoe Stapleton; his father, Lee Stapleton; his granddaughter Leann Tracy Cline; son in law Chuck Davis and multiple siblings. His memory lives on through his caring and devoted daughters, Lola Davis and Teriana Kelsay; brother Jurrel (Sue) Stapleton; sister Ada Mullins; treasured grandchildren Mick (Susan) Fallis, Jeremy Fallis, Jade (Dillon) Hill; son in law George Kelsay and multiple great-grandchildren.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.reichardfh.com