Elizabeth “Libby” Tingle Staples of Skyline passed away peacefully at Pine Lake Adult Rehabilitation Center on Sunday, November 16th, 2025, at the age of 81.
Libby was a lifelong resident of North Carolina, having been born and raised in Pamlico County and later moving away to attend Pfeiffer College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. On her first day of freshman orientation at Pfeiffer, Libby met the man who would become her husband of fifty-nine years, Frank Staples. Dating all through college, Libby and Frank married after she graduated. After a few years respectively in Newport News, VA, and Goldsboro, NC, during Frank’s service in the U.S. Air Force, they settled in their permanent home at Skyline in Moore County.
For over forty years, Libby invested herself in the lives of thousands of students as a teacher and school librarian, spending the majority of her career at Greenwood School. She returned to school herself and earned a Master’s in Library Science from North Carolina Central University. One of Libby’s great joys was hearing kind words of appreciation years later from so many of her students as they grew up and made their way in the world.
Libby attended Southern Pines United Methodist Church, where she was a longtime Sunday school teacher and member of the choir. She was also an avid contributor to the annual Walk to Emmaus.
Throughout her life, Libby lived out a deep and abiding love for others. It showed in her teaching, her devotion to serving and helping those in need, her uncanny ability to care for animals of all kinds, in the kind encouragement she offered anyone she met, and in the dedication she showed to her family and friends.
Libby’s lifelong love of animals was evident to anyone visiting the Staples household. She cherished her horses from childhood and raised many throughout her life. At any given time, someone visiting Libby and Frank might encounter horses, cats, dogs, chickens, guinea pigs, and might even find Libby handling a large rat snake she found in the horse barn. Many of Moore County’s stray animals found their way to a permanent home with Libby and Frank through the years.
Her love of animals placed a close second to her love of adventure. Libby was always ready at a moment’s notice to jump in the car and go somewhere new. Sometimes it was a day trip nearby, but it was just as common for Libby and Frank to be found exploring together all over the United States. One of Libby’s most unique adventures was serving for a number of years as a Civilian Volunteer in the United States Army’s Special Forces training exercise, Robin Sage, where she helped prepare future Green Berets for unconventional warfare.
Libby is survived by her husband, Frank H. Staples; her sister-in-law, Carol Staples Lamphier; and nephews Russell (Randy) Cahoon-Tingle, John (Melanie) Tingle, Samuel (Lynn) Lamphier, and Michael (Danielle) Lamphier, as well as cousins Chuck Buie and Flora Buie. She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Helen Tingle, and her brother, James Tingle.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the staff and caregivers at Pine Lake Adult Rehabilitation Center for their devotion to caring for Libby.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be made by donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Condolences may be sent to www.coxmemorialfuneralhome.com.
The family has entrusted services to Cox Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory of Vass.
