Columbus AFB mourns loss of CPTS civilian Airman

  • Published
  • 14th Comptroller Squadron
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  A civilian Airman assigned to Columbus Air Force Base passed away Jan. 27 at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi.   

Ellen Staples, 14th Comptroller Squadron's Quality Assurance Manager, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday evening.

A memorial was held for Mrs. Staples Feb. 4 at the Base Chapel.

Mrs. Staples proudly served for 22 years in the United States Air Force before retiring as a master sergeant in 1993. During her active-duty service, she received countless awards, medals, and also served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm. After retirement, she continued her service by becoming a Team BLAZE civilian Airman. Since 1994, Ellen dedicated her efforts towards the 14th Flying Training Wing and proved herself as one of the most valued members of the Comptroller family.        

Within the squadron, Mrs. Ellen was heavily relied upon to uphold the highest standards and maintain the finest quality of work in order to keep the CPTS audit-ready. As a Quality Assurance Manager her duties were always done meticulously and consistently which provided many opportunities for training and learning for all Airmen.  Her dedication and willingness to provide honest and valuable feedback tied directly to our success as a squadron significantly impacting the squadron being named AETC's Top FM Organization for the last two years.

Perhaps one of the most memorable parts of Mrs. Ellen was her signature "Candy Jar" that was constantly visited by members of the squadron yet it was never empty.  We could always count on her to provide a smile and a quick treat. She also loved sharing pictures and updates of her kids and grandchildren. When you went to her office or simply walked by, her favorite country music radio stations were always playing while she worked tirelessly for our squadron. Team BLAZE can be proud and thankful for all of Mrs. Ellen's significant contributions to our Wing.  She was a loved and respected member within the CPTS family and she will be sorely missed.