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John Kent ‘Steve’ Stephenson
was born in West Union, OH to J. Arthur and Lucile Stephenson on
June 17, 1931. Most conscientious and with many interests and a love
of adventure, Steve became an Eagle Scout at age 14 and soon after
began running the rifle range at a nearby BSA camp. He joined the
Ohio National Guard following his sophomore year of high school,
attaining the rank of staff sergeant. Then, after his 1949
graduation from Manchester High School in southern Ohio, he joined
the Air Force and served on active duty until entering West Point
with the Class of 1954 on July 5, 1950.
Steve was assigned to Company A-1, a flanker company with high
esprit de corps. He quickly demonstrated that he was a good
student and that the cadet routine, even during plebe year, would
not be a problem. An all-around athlete, he played “C” squad
football and was a major asset on A-1 intramural teams.
Always busy with cadet activities, Steve made many friends across
the Corps who shared his numerous and varied interests. In addition
to his membership in the Russian Club and four years as a
Howitzer representative, fellow A-1 classmates soon learned that
he had a major passion for music, a fact he readily demonstrated by
participating as a member of both the Cadet Chapel Choir and the
Glee Club. In addition to his love of singing, with his deep bass
voice, Steve enjoyed playing the trumpet in the Cadet Orchestra.
Classmates recall his quick mind, his gravelly voice, his good
nature, and his willingness to always help others.
After graduating from West Point and receiving an Air Force
commission, Steve took primary flying training at Stallings Air Base
in Kinston, NC. His bachelorhood ended quite quickly during this
assignment when he met, courted, and wed Virginia Randolph.
Following basic flying training in multi-engine aircraft, Steve
received his pilot wings in 1955 and was assigned to the 75th Air
Transport Squadron at Travis Air Force Base (AFB), CA. For nearly
two years Steve flew C-97 Strat cruisers, transporting military
passengers and dependents to overseas points all around the Pacific
basin. Debi, Steve and Virginia’s first child, was born
during this time.
After training in the C-124 cargo aircraft, an assignment with the
48th Air Transport Squadron at Hickam AFB, HI was next. During this
tour he became an aircraft commander, accumulated several thousand
flying hours in the C-124, and was able to enjoy island life with
Virginia, Debi, and their new-born son Mike (’80) between flights.
They lived in Kailua on the windward side of Oahu, where Steve got
in many rounds of golf at the nearby Kaneohe Marine Corps Course
between his MATS missions. As he did whenever he had the option,
Steve chose to live on the economy and be part of the local
neighborhood.
Steve then attended the USAF Institute of Technology at
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH for two years, earning an MS in nuclear
engineering, following which he applied his knowledge to projects
for the Aerospace Technical Center. Their daughter Gwen was born on
this assignment.
Assigned to Dover AFB, DE for the next three years, Steve flew
C-124s for the 31st Air Transport Squadron, accumulating many more
air hours. Randi, their fourth child, was born during this tour.
Squadron picnics and other outings enhanced the family’s stay in
Dover.
In
1966, Steve was assigned to the U.S. Military Mission in Zaire on an
accompanied tour, which was an adventure for all of the family. He
flew weekly to Brazzaville and other larger cities and also piloted
trips for the U.S.-sponsored president of Zaire. An incident in
which American dependents were deemed to be in danger resulted in
the mid-tour evacuation of Virginia and the kids to Wiesbaden,
Germany and their subsequent move to Virginia’s hometown of Kinston.
Returning to the continental United States following his Africa
tour, Steve was assigned to the Armed Forces Staff College, followed
by a classified job with the Defense Intelligence Agency until 1974.
While working in the DC area, Steve lived in a fixer-upper in
Fairhaven, MD overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. He stayed involved in
his kids’ lives by driving down to see them in North Carolina on
weekends and holidays and providing adventurous summer vacation
opportunities for them at his home. Jean joined the family when she
married Steve in 1971, and soon after Debi joined the newlyweds in
Maryland.
Steve retired exactly 20 years after his West Point graduation, with
24 years of longevity including his pre-USMA service. Steve, Jean,
and Debi then moved to Yelm, WA, where Steve progressed from
part-time agent to vice president for a realty firm. Specializing in
assisting military families, he founded a real estate firm, later
adding investment and travel consulting. He was also active as a
board member for TROA and the Yelm Chamber of Commerce. His major
retirement interest was playing poker, at which he was exceedingly
successful. A true numbers guy, he was always multiplying, dividing,
and figuring percentages in his head, and he studied the game and
his opponents. He traveled to increasingly larger tourneys and his
winnings drew considerable attention. One newspaper telling of his
success jokingly captioned his picture “Dewey Cheatum wins another
tournament.” A classmate saw him on one of Steve’s many trips to
Reno, NV, where he more than held his own with the country’s elite
poker players.
Steve was intelligent, good natured, most competent in all that he
did, and a friend to many. Rest in peace, Steve, on this, your final
flight. |
