Technical Sargent Lloyd Byron Maples, U.S. Army [27 March 1920 – 24 November 1944] was the first child born to Lloyd Neri Maples [13 November 1898 - 12 May 1968] and Hannah Josephine Highberg Maples [16 January 1902 – 12 March 1995] at Palacios, Matagorda County, Texas. His parents were married on 25 June 1919 in Matagorda County, Texas. His siblings included: Ernest Richard Maples [1921 – 1936], Wilbur Leon Maples [1924 – 1961] and Agnes Maples Kunefke [1927 – 2000].  Between 1927 and 1942 his parents were divorced. He attended Palacios Schools and after graduation he moved to Galveston, Texas where he met his future bride, Violet Fay Waine, who was born at Medford, Jackson County, Oregon on 18 August 1926. They married at Elco, Nevada in 1942. While at Galveston, Byron joined the Texas National Guard and was assigned to 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. The division shipped overseas on 2 April 1943. A son, Daniel Earl Maples, was born to Violet and Byron on 9 September 1944, shortly before his father’s death. As an original Texas National Guardsman Byron experienced combat in Salerno and the mountains of Italy, as well as the capture of Rome and the landing in southern France on 15 August 1944 (Operation Dragoon), and the hard fighting in the Vosges Mountains where he died in the fighting to cross the Meurthe River before St. Die. Byron is buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France. 

texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/36division/archives/143/143lin.htm
 

TWO WAR CASUALTIES ARE REPORTED HERE THIS WEEK

      Nels P. Highberg, Sr., brought us the news this week that his daughter, Mrs. Violet F. [Hannah] Maples, had received word from the War Department that her son, T/Sgt. Floyd [Lloyd] Byron Maples, died November 24 in France of wounds received in action. Mrs. Maples now lives in Springville, Utah, but formerly resided here and has numerous friends who regret to learn that another Palacios boy is numbered on the casualty list.

Palacios Beacon, Thursday, December 14, 1944
 

According to information on the WWII Memorial Registry, T/Sgt. Maples was in the U.S. Army (20808830), 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. He is buried at Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal (Vosges) France, Plot A, Row 7, Grave 45. He received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
 

HANNAH HIGHBERG JACKSON

Funeral services for Hannah Highberg Jackson, 93, of Palacios, were scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, 1995 at the First United Methodist Church in Palacios with Rev. Ralph Smith officiating. Interment will be in the Palacios Cemetery.

Mrs. Jackson was born Jan. 16, 1902 in Collegeport to Nels P. and Mary O'Linda LeCompte Highberg, Sr. She died March 12, 1995 at the Palacios HealthCare & Rehab Center.

A life-long resident of the Palacios area, she was a member of the Palacios V.F.W. Post 2467 Ladies Auxiliary and a former pink lady for Wagner General  Hospital.

Mrs. Highberg is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Agnes and Leonard Kunefke of Palacios; two sisters, Nellie Tripp of Orlando, Fla. and Hulda McCarry of Port Arthur; five brothers Nels P. Highberg, Jr. of Lancaster, Pa., John Highberg of Winnie, TX., Paul Highberg of Victoria, Haywood Highberg of Point Comfort and Jim Highberg of Seadrift; nine grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, F. M. Jackson on April 11, 1986; three sons, Byron, Wilbur and Ernest Jackson; two sisters, Mary Stuckey and Anna Baltar; and brother, Adolph Highberg.

Palacios Beacon, March 15, 1995

Lloyd N[eri]. Maples

Funeral Services for Lloyd N. Maples were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, at the Post Oak Baptist Church, Houston, followed by interment in Richmond.

Born November 13, 1898 in Nuckolls County, Nebraska he moved to Matagorda County in 1914.  He lived in Collegeport and Palacios until 1940.  He died in Houston on May 12.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Cleatus Maples of Houston; three daughters, Mrs. Agnes Kunefke of Palacios, Miss Kathy Maples and Mrs. Margaret Edge; one son Kyle Maples, one step-daughter, Mrs. Darlene Garner; two step-sons, Bennett and Barckley Denham, all of Houston; twenty grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Palacios Beacon, May 23, 1968

NOTE: Lloyd Neri Maples was born in Nebraska on November 16, 1897 and died in Houston, Texas on May 12, 1968. These dates are from the Social Security Death Index and are different from those in the obit.

Wife of Lloyd Byron Maples - Violet Fay Waine Maples Lindsay
 

Son of Lloyd Byron Maples - Daniel Earl Maples
 

Brother of Lloyd Byron Maples

Ernest Richard Maples

Ernest Richard Maples, aged 14 years, 9 months and 6 days, died at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Maples, early Friday morning, July 17^th. Besides his parents he is survived by one sister and two brothers.

Funeral services were held from the Palacios Funeral Home Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. C. Gibbons, of the Methodist Church. Burial was made in the Palacios Cemetery under the direction of the Palacios Funeral Home.

The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereaved family in the loss of this loved one, who perhaps had drawn a closer tie due to his illness which had been of a long duration. He was brave throughout it all, and his courage to fight for health and life was an inspiration to those who knew him and had been with him at different times. He sleeps in peace and is at rest.

Palacios Beacon, July 23, 1936
 

Photo of T/Sgt. Maples courtesy of Palacios Area Historical Association Museum
and volunteers Shirlee and Richard.
 

Copyright 2006 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs
All rights reserved

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