Matthew Eric Stapula's Obituary
Matthew Eric Stapula, 48 of Concord passed away tragically on February 2, 2020. He was born on December 23, 1971 in Würzburg, Germany to Eric and Linda Stapula.
Matt never met a stranger. He made friends instantly and was loved by so many. He loved everything about flying. He loved airplanes and anything that flew from the age of 5 when he used to sit on his father’s lap to fly airplanes. He also loved model airplanes and shared that love with his father. He loved watching drag racing and motocross. Matt was good with his hands and loved building anything from model airplanes to a “She Shed” for his mother. He was good at doing everything he put his mind to, from repairing cars to flying 100-ton jets.
In addition to his parents, survivors include his loving wife Michelle Mayes Stapula; sons Eric Stapula (Hannah) and Drew Brownfield (Alexis); daughter Rebecca (Jake) Miers; brother Patrick (Mandy) with nephews Austin and Cole and his grandchildren; Noah, River, and Elijah; grandmother, Kaye Stapula; aunt Carol Franks, uncles Gene and Ed Wilson, great uncle Harold and cousin Clinton Wilson, mother and father in-law Jerry and Mardee Stover; sisters-in-law Jeri Stover (Doug Beavers) and Megan Miller (Drew); nephew Atticus Miller; nieces Lincoln Miller and Lennox Miller. He raced motocross with his uncle Steve and aunt Pam Stapula and was like a brother to his cousins Michael and Laura. He was dearly loved by Michelle’s grandmother, BJ Folz, and Aunt Beth (JC) Anderson. He was thrilled to be able to share his grandmother’s 90th birthday last week with his uncles Doug and Mike Reed. There are many cousins aunts and uncles that will miss him dearly as well. Matt had so many friends it would be difficult to name them all.
Matt had a second family and that consisted of all the special people he worked with at Piedmont Airlines and American Airlines. These were some of the relationships he treasured most and their outpouring of love at this tragedy speaks to that special bond he had with them. Piedmont was also where he had the good fortune to fly with his daughter Rebecca who was a flight attendant and who also made sure that everyone boarding the plane knew it was her father who was captain and that he would be taking very good care of them on that flight.
A memorial service will be held at 3pm Saturday, February 8 at James Funeral Home with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Carolina Aviation Museum, http://www.carolinasaviation.org and click give.
James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family.
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