Herbert “Herb, Mr. S, Dad, Grandpa” Alfred Stallings. On the afternoon of May 18, 2015, Herb passed away peacefully of natural causes. Herb was being comforted by family members and friends at his home in Canon City, CO at the time of his passing. He was 83 years old. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him—and we mourn his passing—but our lives are lifted from knowing him and he will continue to live on in our hearts and minds because we have an endless supply of stories both about him and from him. He loved people and he never met a stranger, and if you were fortunate enough to know him you too will miss the smile and his greeting and the latest story that perhaps you had heard a dozen times before.
Herb was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico on July 7th, 1931. He enlisted in the military May 14, 1949 where he proudly served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. There he served as an ECM operator on the B-36 Bomber and was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base. While in combat he flew on the B-29. Following his service in the military he worked in Air Traffic Control for 27 years, starting in Midland, Texas, and moving on to Albuquerque, New Mexico. He then helped open DFW airport in the early 70’s where he finished out his FAA career while rising to the highest government rank of GS15.
He was an active Volunteer while his three children were in school and served as the PTA president in Midland Texas in the 60’s and coached his oldest son’s baseball teams. He loved the mountains of Colorado. It was there, at his beloved “The Ranch” where he spent endless hours entertaining friends and having family time with his children and grandchildren.
The ultimate “Grandpa,” his grandchildren brought him his greatest joy and he had a unique relationship and nickname for every one of them and he would tell you with no uncertainty that records would be set (by them) for the rest of humanity to chase. Singing, acting, sports, academics; it didn’t matter! They were going to set the bar high for all who competed with them.
An avid craftsmen, he made handcrafted, lathe-turned ink pens that were given as gifts to professional athletes, politicians, and anyone else who was fortunate enough to cross his path. And if you wanted to strike up a conversation, you merely had to ask him about one of his dozens of cars…in various states of repair. There you would be regaled by plans of completion and fabric samples for all of the interiors. Yes, we will miss him.
Herb is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Martin Stallings and Mary Anthony Stallings of Tucumcari, New Mexico, and his wife of 54 years, Betty Louisa Ann Stallings of Bedford, TX who passed away on June 10, 2007. He is survived by his companion and best friend of the last 15 years, Mary Ann Fleming of Canon City, CO, his children, Terry Stallings and wife Vicki of Colleyville, TX, Rebecca Stallings-Harvill and husband Riley of Dallas, TX, Martin Stallings of Birmingham, AL, Robert Fleming of Canon City, CO and Lee Ann Fleming of Denver, CO; Grandchildren Nathan Stallings of Colleyville, TX, Abigail Foremen and husband Nicholas of Carrollton, TX, Matthew Stallings and wife Maygie of Little Rock, ARK, Brynwyn Blaising of Dallas, TX, Kathryn Blaising of Austin, TX, Jacob Harvill of Dallas, TX, Samantha Stallings of Birmingham, AL, and Alana Stallings of Birmingham, AL; Five Great Grandchildren: Ajax Stallings, Hannah Foreman, Monroe Stallings, Lauren Foreman and Atticus Stallings; His sister Janie Danforth of Fort Myers, Florida, and last but not least the family border collie, Daisy.
A memorial service for Herbert Stallings will be held at Wilson Funeral Home on Wednesday May 27, at 1 pm. Internment will follow a military service in June at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please send any donations to Canon City Meals on Wheels.
Arrangements are under the care of Wilson Funeral Home. Online condolences @ www.wilsonfuneralhome.org

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