Austin Edward Stiles, DDS, 92, of Leavenworth passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at St. John’s Hospital in Leavenworth with his son Mark at his side.
Austin was born January 17, 1930 in Schenectady, N.Y. to Rev. Austin E. and Mrs. Pauline F. Stiles. He grew up in Dallastown, Pa. and was a member of the first high school football team in the town’s history. He received his undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College and his dentistry doctorate from Temple University in Philadelphia. He was a career U.S. Army officer, serving in Korea and with MedEvac support in Japan during the Vietnam War. He retired as full colonel in 1976 while chief of the dental clinic at Ft. Leavenworth. He then began a second career as professor of dental medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, retiring as a popular faculty member in 1997. He enjoyed fishing, model railroading, and singing in a barbershop quartet and chorus. In 1956 he married the love of his life, Leilah Rae (Bamforth) Stiles, “Rae”, of Dallastown, beginning a wonderful 66 year marriage. His father performed the wedding ceremony.
Together they had two sons, Mark and Joel, and the family lived in various locations during his time in the Army, including Colorado Springs, Colo., Fort Dix and Mount Holly, N.J., Fort Jay, NYC, Sagamihara, Japan, and finally, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. Austin and Rae built a house in Leavenworth in 1974 and resided there until 2020 when they moved to assisted living in Lansing, Kan. After retiring from UMKC, he and Rae traveled via rail across Canada, on a cruise of Alaska, and to visit close friends on sabbatical in New Zealand.
Austin is predeceased by his son Joel R. Stiles of Wexford, Pa., who was taken far too young in 2011 of a brain tumor, and his brother Mahlon R. Stiles of Smyrna, Ga. in 2015. He is survived by his wife Rae, now in nursing care in Lansing, his son Mark A. Stiles of Brookline, N.H., daughter-in-law Helen D. Stiles (Joel’s wife) of Wexford, and grandchildren Laura Stiles of NYC, Michelle Stiles of Somerville, N.J., and Kevin Stiles of Athens, Ga.
Austin will be interred at the Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery in a private ceremony. Arrangements entrusted to Davis Funeral Chapel. A Celebration of Life for Austin will be planned for a later time. Please send condolences to Mark Stiles, PO Box 75, Leavenworth, KS 66048. In lieu of any flowers or gifts, please consider making a donation to the ASPCA or a local pet shelter.