David W. Stapleton was born Dec. 28, 1910 in Detroit, Michigan to Dr. William J. Stapleton and Mamie Ireland Stapleton, he died Tuesday, December 6, 2005 after a brief illness. He attended the University of Michigan and while in Detroit was in the automotive manufacturing industry with Ireland-Matthew Co., Eaton Manufacturing Corp., Standard Products Corp., and Ainsworth Manufacturing Corp. He was a member of the Players Club of Detroit, former member of the Grosse Pointe Hunt Club and Detroit Boat Club, Grosse Pointe Memorial Church and a lifelong member of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church, Detroit.
He was a Ham Radio operator, loved horseback riding and golf as well as flying his own small plane.
He moved to the Boston area in 1955 where he became President of Stowe-Woodward Industries of Newton Upper Falls, MA. In Boston he was on the Board of the Boston Association for the Hard of Hearing, Director of the Newton Waltham Bank and Trust, former member of the Norfolk Hunt Club, Dedham Country and Polo Club, Algonquin Club of Boston, Brae Burn Country Club and Dover Church.
In 1970 he became a winter resident in Venice Florida and moved to Florida permanently in 1991 making his home on Longboat Key. He traveled extensively in Europe as a child with his parents and continued his travels throughout his business life and well into his 90’s. In Florida he was a member of the Bird Key Yacht Club, Venice Presbyterian Church and Associate member of All Angels By The Sea of Longboat Key and former member of Mission Valley Country Club, Bent Tree Golf Club, Sarasota University Club and the Venice Yacht Club. Beloved husband of Marjorie ( Peabody) of Florida and the late Mary Phillips Stapleton. Father of Susan Stapleton of Boston and David Stapleton Jr. and his wife Joan of Dover. Grandfather of Jennifer Stapleton of Boston and David Stapleton III and his wife Mata Swenson of San Francisco . Step - father of Jane Fennssey of Florida, Clifford and his wife Laure Peabody of Michigan and step grandfather of Andrew Peabody. A Memorial Service will be held at the Dover Church, 17 Spring St. Dover on Thursday Dec. 22nd at 10:30 AM. Relatives and friends Kindly invited. In lieu of flowers memorials in David’s memory may be made to All Angels By the Sea Legacy Fund, 563 Bay Isles Rd.Longboat Key, FL 34228. Local Arrangements by the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Avenue Needham.