Robert Howard Maples, 92, a lifelong resident of Somerville, passed away Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 at Decatur Morgan Hospital, Parkway Campus.
He was born Sept. 29, 1923 to Charles Edward Maples and Lee Velma Johnson Maples of Somerville, the 10th of 12 children and the youngest of three sons. Robert learned a strong work ethic beside his papa in the fields as a child, served in the Civilian Conservation Corps as a youth, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the Greatest Generation, a veteran of World War II, serving aboard the destroyer, USS Izard, as a signalman and gunner in many of the major battles in the Pacific. In his spare time, he was the ship’s barber.
After the war, he returned to Somerville, married Barbara Ann Miller and farmed until he was hired by Wolverine Tube so he could pitch for their baseball team. An industrial accident severed his pitching thumb, and he later came out on strike. After honing his barbering skills at Fort Benning, Georgia, he returned and barbered in Decatur until opening his own shop in Somerville in 1961, retiring in 1989.
Robert never met a stranger. He enjoyed people and made friends easily. His great loves were his family, church, community and sports. He was past master of the Somerville Masonic Lodge and 60-year membership pin recipient, a longtime Somerville City Councilman, and former Sunday School Superintendent and Steward of Somerville United Methodist Church, as well as a 26-year member of Center Springs United Methodist.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Auby and Melvin; sisters, Elma, Estelle, Inez, Irene, Mildred, Helen, Hilda, Christine and June; his wife, Barbara Maples; his wife, Eloise Allen Maples; three nieces and five nephews. He is survived by his son, Robert Anthony “Tony” Maples and wife, Darlene, of Warrior, and his daughter, Delia Leanne “Dee” Weeder and husband, Royal, of Utah; five grandchildren, Dr. Martha Gardner, Patrick Oden, Alice Henley, Gregory Maples and Suzanne Molina; six stepgrandchildren, six great-grandchildren, 15 stepgreat-grandchildren, and two stepgreat-great-grandchildren, along with seven nieces and eight nephews.
Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2016 at Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle. The memorial service will be held in the chapel with Royal L. Weeder conducting, followed by Masonic burial rites in the Historic Somerville Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Patrick Oden, Gregory Maples, Jefferson Gardner, Stanley Stringer, Charles Maples and Paul Gilbert.
The family wishes to express gratitude to Dr. Mike Putman, Robert’s primary physician for the past 30 years, and to the staffs of Parkway Medical and The Terrace at Priceville, for the excellent care given and compassion shown to our Dad and Papaw.
