Lela Owens Wade Staples

Our “mom” passed away at home in New Braunfels, Texas where she loved living her final years with family. She lived an incredible life passing away from old age and a worn-out body. Who can ask for more? Lela was 92, almost 93, born June 26, 1932. Born at St. Josephs Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas and her life, until she was married, revolved around Arlington, Texas her family home. Lela Staples was a kind, sweet, and balanced woman. Everyone who met her knew it. It’s hard to express the goodness that would radiate from her presence. All that crossed her path defined her as beautiful, kind, creative, with focus on family and friendships, generous, passionate about community service, carefully quiet, traditional taste, and incredibly welcoming. She tried a few hobbies, but nothing brought her joy more than being a lifelong Chi-Omega sorority girl. Her other passion was supporting her multi-generational girlfriends while they continued giving their time to the community. Her friendships inspired us all to have just a few like them. Mom’s other joy was collecting “blue & white” porcelain. She and her friends spent many years hunting across the country for “blue & white” treasure. Mom was raised in a modest home by a loving mother, Lela “Lele” Owens Wade, a housewife, and William Earl “Da” Wade, a mechanic for Southwestern Bell Telephone. Her dad was a tough hardworking man. She idolized her mother: a woman that dutifully navigated a frugal life in a small town with two children of very different needs as well as ages. Mom always praised her mother’s activities in the Arlington Women’s Club, and the things she did to support her church and faith. She’d always tell us stories about her incredible older brother, Bill, and his wife Marty. She’d worried so much about Bill as he’d been so ill in his early years. She praised him for all the tough things he’d done to overcome adversity and achieve success. She graduated from Arlington High School on May 28, 1948. While mother’s career was her family, her parents insisted she go to university, at a time when not many women did this. She attended Arlington State College, completing her associate’s degree in science and then went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics on January 31, 1953. Mom was trained by the best, including her mother and her schools, cheering for the UT Football team all these years. Her mother coached her to overlook the unpleasant and to focus upon the good that life could deliver. After graduating UT Austin, mom married Joseph Addison “Joe” Staples and quickly had 4 children, Mark, Craig, Janet, and Keith. She raised her family in Houston Texas where they settled upon graduating from UT Austin, TCU, SMU, and Rice Institute. She spent over 60 years there in the home they’d built. She was a deep participant in every activity of her children’s lives. When she walked through any door to join any one of her 4 kids, everyone in the room knew her or wanted to. Our friends and family knew she’d always gone the extra mile for her kids and the community, when others could not or would not. Her incredible group of friends rallied for each other, in every circumstance, in joy or in sadness. Mom and Dad traveled extensively around the world making over 100 journeys by land and by sea. They traveled with friends and found many along the way. Mom, we will cherish you and your time here on earth with us. Friday May 9, 2025, there will be a 1:00 PM visitation prior to the 2:00 PM service at the Wade Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Arlington, TX. Pastor Brenda Beaver will officiate the service with Bill Wade playing piano. The burial will follow in the Old Arlington Cemetery, 801 S Mary St, Arlington, TX 76010. Surviving family members include son Mark Staples and wife Glenda, granddaughter Heather and husband David Barkley, great grandchildren Abigail and JD, and grandson Mark Wade; son Craig Staples and Mindy Rubinstein, grandchildren Addison and MacKenzie; daughter Janet Staples, grandchildren JJ Huston and Holly Huston; son Keith Staples and wife Judy, grandchildren Kyle, Shawn, and Katy.