Theodore A. Haapala Jr.

Theodore A. Haapala, Jr. of Greensboro, MD died on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at Memorial Hospital at Easton. He was 66. Born March 10, 1941 in Worcester, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Theodore A., Sr. and Ellen H. Tiaval Hangas, and the step-son of the late Arno Hangas. After the death of his father, he was raised by his mother and grandparents, Helmi and Wvelti Tiaval. He lived in Maynard, Massachusetts and Ipswich, NH before moving to the Eastern Shore as a teenager. After graduating from Preston High School in 1959, he entered the U.S. Navy where he became a plank owner on the USS Virginia (CGN-38), achieving the rank of ETC. He retired from active duty after twenty years of service. He continued his education and received his Master’s Degree with honors from the University of Phoenix. He worked as Sr. Tempest Engineer for Honeywell Corp. and Computer Science Corporation, living in the Baltimore area until moving to Greensboro, MD in 2001. He retired in 2004. He was a member of American Legion Caroline Post # 0029, the Fleet Reserve of Annapolis, and The Knights of Kaleva. Known as Ted by his friends and family, he shared a love of the Eastern Shore with all who knew him., He enjoyed the love of his family, fishing and nature, and the Choptank River. He shared many of his childhood memories and adventures by contributing stories to the local Cross Winds magazine. He loved to travel and visited his family homeland, Finland, many times with his wife. Mr. Haapala is survived by his wife, the former Cheryl Hlaston; two children, Theodore A. Haapala, III and his wife Cheryl, and Karen M. Bennett and her husband Rick all of Preston, MD; three brothers, Kenneth Haapala of Fairfax, VA, Jonathan Hangas of Grosse Point, Michigan, and Arno Hangas, Jr. of Fitchburg, Mass; and four grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Beever, Christopher Michael Haapala, Lisa Marie Beever, and Cody Alan Bennett. Friends may call on Sunday, July 29, 2007 from 6 to 8 PM and on Monday, July 30th from 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton, MD. Burial at the Maryland Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery, with military honors, will be private.