Anne Stapleton Earle

Anne Stapleton Earle of Charleston, South Carolina, went home to be with the Lord on September 19, 2025, at the age of 85. The oldest of three, Anne was born in Akron, New York, to Theodore and Myra Stapleton. Anne is survived by her two brothers, Thomas C. Stapleton and Theodore Stapleton (Fran); their children, Margaret Whitbeck (Brian) and Suzanne Stapleton; her two daughters, Carolyn Standing and Merrick Earle (Tripp Patterson); and her grandchildren, whom she loved as her own children, Rozalind Standing (Kyle Lauzon) and Jack Standing (Lauren); as well as her great-grandchildren, Ruby and Eli Lauzon.

Anne grew up in Akron and spent summers at a family cottage on Newark Island on Sodus Bay, New York, where cherished lifetime memories were made. Boating, sunning on the dock, playing games, and gatherings with friends and family made Sodus an especially memorable place, and Anne was fortunate to return every summer of her life.

Anne attended Akron Central High School, where she was the image of “the All-American Girl,” involved in almost every activity the school offered. She attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges briefly before completing her education with two bachelor’s degrees from the University at Buffalo, majoring in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She later earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Nova University.

If you knew Anne, keeping up with her address required its own address book! Starting in Orchard Park, New York, Anne taught kindergarten through second grade at a number of schools along the East Coast before ending her career at Coronado Beach Elementary School in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, as their principal. The City of New Smyrna Beach declared June 1, 2000, as “Anne Earle Day” in recognition of her accomplishments at Coronado Beach Elementary, the day she retired from education. Anne had a great smile, a warm heart, and loved laughing with friends.

Anne studied dance from a young age through her high school years, sang with the Sweet Adelines as an adult, and loved being on the water. She raised Merrick and Carolyn with all that she had. She never missed a chance to show up for her girls, and many of their friends referred to her as “Mom.” They spent Earle-Girl weekends traveling around the East Coast to art exhibits, historic towns, “Thanksmas” holidays, and catching up with lifelong friends. Anne would have sacrificed all she had to make her daughters’ lives growing up the best they could be.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Parkinson Disease Association at
https://support.apdaparkinson.org

There will be a small family ceremony in Sodus Bay in the summer of 2026.