This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath Surnames: Stapp, Brown, Bechtold Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/5024/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Walter B. Stapp, loving husband, father, and grandfather, resident of Las Cruces, NM died peacefully at home on November 22, 2010. He was born June 25, 1924 in Pittsburg, Kansas to Walter and Marie Brown Stapp. Walt served honorably in the Navy during WWII, where he visited exotic locations such as Australia and the Philippines. Following the war, he attended the University of New Mexico and the University of Kansas where he graduated in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in Engineering. He met his loving wife of 43 years, Dixie, in Kansas City, MO, whom he married in 1953. They became proud parents of twin daughters in 1954. During his engineering career, Walt worked for many different industries, including the Aerospace industry in California, the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, and Trasana (now TRAC) at White Sands Missile Range, where he retired in 1980. He enjoyed many hobbies and sports, including wood working, bird carving, painting, bird-watching, and hunting. He enjoyed an active retirement, taking cruises and trips to Spain and the Panama Canal. He was active in the Senior Olympics. He made many good friends in his retirement. He is survived by his daughters, Margaret Stapp and Marie Stapp, of Las Cruces; two grandchildren, Yemi and Iyabo, of Las Cruces, his sister, Mary Jane Bechtold of Cedar Park, Texas, nephews Jeff and Ray Bechtold of Austin, Texas; nephews Tony and Jim Keller of Pittsburg, Kansas; and niece Jane Ann Turigliatto of Astoria Oregon. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dixie and his sister Alma May. There will be a Celebration of Life Service at the Getz Funeral Home Chapel in Las Cruces on December 18, 2010 at 1pm. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home corner of Solano and Bowman Ave., Las Cruces, NM 526-2419. To sign the local online guest book go to www.GetzCares.com Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on December 14, 2010 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.