John William Stapleton, 93, of the Township of Washington, N.J., passed away peacefully on June 10, 2018.
John was born on Aug. 12, 1924, to John William and Ruth Diamond Stapleton in Philadelphia.
He was an alumnus of Philadelphia’s Northeast Catholic High School and St. Joseph’s University. A United States Marine Corps veteran, John served during World War II from 1943 to 1946 before being honorably discharged as a sergeant.
He married his late wife Dorothy Murray Stapleton of New York, N..Y, in 1950. They were married for 61 years until her death in 2011.
John served as the first elected mayor of Township of Washington, N.J., from 1970 to 1981. He will be remembered as a selfless patron of God, family, and country.
John was an avid community volunteer. Along with his loving wife Dorothy, he was a Eucharistic minister and devoted countless service hours to the sick at local medical centers.
In 1959, John helped in the construction of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in the Township of Washington, N.J., of which he was a devout parishioner up until his death.
He was also an engaged member of the Knights of Columbus and the Veterans of Foreign Wars while working for General Chemical for many decades.
John is survived by his three children, John “Sean” William Jr. and his wife Kathleen of Johnstown, Colo., Barbara Stapleton Rissetto and her husband Timothy of St. Augustine, Fla., and Kevin Joseph and his wife Marie of Township of Washington, N.J.
He was predeceased by his siblings Edward, Sr. Mary Jane, Michael, and Ruth. John is also survived by his sister Helen and her husband Richard of Scranton, PA. He also leaves his 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
The family will receive their friends at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral liturgy will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 668 Ridgewood Road, Township of Washington, N.J. on Friday at 10 a.m. Entombment at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities, 2050 Ballenger Ave., Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314.