Obituary for Robert Dean Stephens
Robert Stephens went to meet his Lord and Savior November 8th, 2020 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Bob, as he was known, was a truly beloved Father, Grandfather, Uncle, and friend. Bob was famous for his storytelling. Part fact and oftentimes part fiction but always entertaining Bob could enthrall you with stories for hours.
This obituary will be an homage to his legendary storytelling.
Bob was born February 3rd, 1931 to William Alvy Stephens and Reba Melvina (Fisher) Stephens. And as Bob would put it, the younger and more handsome brother of William Eugene Stephens. His family was perhaps as colorful as his life was to be. Bob’s grandfather absconded with the stockman’s cattle money and left the country to homestead in Banff, Canada in the early 1900s. His aunt and uncle had the first circus to ever travel to Alaska and they had great success in and around Anchorage. Henry Wellington Fisher and Viola Ardella (Henson) Fisher were grocers in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. They were perhaps the most stable of his relatives.His father was a construction worker and his mother was a homemaker. They moved the family frequently, chasing work throughout the country. The family at one time or other lived in Brownsville, Texas, Bakersfield, California, and most of the towns and cities of northern Oklahoma. It was not uncommon for them to move several times during the school year. Only a few times did they start and finish a school year in the same town.
When his older brother William “Gene” Stephens decided to join the United States Navy, Bob was right there next to his brother signing up. Bob, age 17, lied about his age to get past the recruiters. Bob served as a boatswains mate aboard the USS Wiltsie during very turbulent times in China and Korea. He served during the evacuation of Americans from Tsingtao as the Chinese Civil War raged. He was there when one of the coalition forces’ British Corsairs was sunk during a battle in the Yangzi River. Bob watched the evacuation of foreign nationals from Tsingtao. The USS Wiltsie departed Chinese waters as Tsingtao fell to the Communists in 1949. Bob continued to serve in the theater during the Korean War. Bob’s skills as a signalman were very valuable working as a forward observer. He was the only member of the Navy assigned along with the Army as forward observers for his group. Bob returned from the Navy, worked at various jobs and got married. They had two children Robin and Kenneth. In February, 1984 he married Stella Karr and they settled in Oklahoma City.
Bob worked for the Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA) and eventually retired from federal service. He was well respected and recognized nationally for his work in logistics and warehousing. Bob was especially proud of his brother who also retired from the FAA and his sister-in-law Lorraine who founded an electronic books publishing company and was a published author. Bob was a 33rd degree Mason of the Guthrie Scottish Rite. He volunteered his time extensively for the Masons and was an honorable servant of that esteemed body.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents William Alvy Stephens and Reba Melvina (Fisher) Stephens. His brother William Eugene Stephens his wife Lorraine Stephens of Newcastle, Oklahoma. His son Kenneth “Tanner” Stephens and his nephew Matthew Stephens.
Bob is survived by chidren Steve and Maryanna Karr, Linda and Bill Foster and Stan and Arlene Karr, and Robin Stephens. Nephew Eric and Janie Stephens, and their children and grandchidren. Grandchildren Paul and Giselle Foster, David and Leah Foster, Tami Foster, Stacie and Darald Turner, Michelle Ferguson, Jennifer and Katie Karr, Clarissa and Michael Stephens. 15 Great Grand children, and 4 Great Great Grand chilren. Bob lived a Blessed Life. He was not limited by his environs and managed to get the most out of everything he endeavored to pursue. He was always a pleasure to visit with. It took the most unprecedented of circumstances to remove him from our lives. Perhaps a fitting end to a life of a man who lived through many other unprecedented times in our history.
This obituary will be an homage to his legendary storytelling.
Bob was born February 3rd, 1931 to William Alvy Stephens and Reba Melvina (Fisher) Stephens. And as Bob would put it, the younger and more handsome brother of William Eugene Stephens. His family was perhaps as colorful as his life was to be. Bob’s grandfather absconded with the stockman’s cattle money and left the country to homestead in Banff, Canada in the early 1900s. His aunt and uncle had the first circus to ever travel to Alaska and they had great success in and around Anchorage. Henry Wellington Fisher and Viola Ardella (Henson) Fisher were grocers in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. They were perhaps the most stable of his relatives.His father was a construction worker and his mother was a homemaker. They moved the family frequently, chasing work throughout the country. The family at one time or other lived in Brownsville, Texas, Bakersfield, California, and most of the towns and cities of northern Oklahoma. It was not uncommon for them to move several times during the school year. Only a few times did they start and finish a school year in the same town.
When his older brother William “Gene” Stephens decided to join the United States Navy, Bob was right there next to his brother signing up. Bob, age 17, lied about his age to get past the recruiters. Bob served as a boatswains mate aboard the USS Wiltsie during very turbulent times in China and Korea. He served during the evacuation of Americans from Tsingtao as the Chinese Civil War raged. He was there when one of the coalition forces’ British Corsairs was sunk during a battle in the Yangzi River. Bob watched the evacuation of foreign nationals from Tsingtao. The USS Wiltsie departed Chinese waters as Tsingtao fell to the Communists in 1949. Bob continued to serve in the theater during the Korean War. Bob’s skills as a signalman were very valuable working as a forward observer. He was the only member of the Navy assigned along with the Army as forward observers for his group. Bob returned from the Navy, worked at various jobs and got married. They had two children Robin and Kenneth. In February, 1984 he married Stella Karr and they settled in Oklahoma City.
Bob worked for the Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA) and eventually retired from federal service. He was well respected and recognized nationally for his work in logistics and warehousing. Bob was especially proud of his brother who also retired from the FAA and his sister-in-law Lorraine who founded an electronic books publishing company and was a published author. Bob was a 33rd degree Mason of the Guthrie Scottish Rite. He volunteered his time extensively for the Masons and was an honorable servant of that esteemed body.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents William Alvy Stephens and Reba Melvina (Fisher) Stephens. His brother William Eugene Stephens his wife Lorraine Stephens of Newcastle, Oklahoma. His son Kenneth “Tanner” Stephens and his nephew Matthew Stephens.
Bob is survived by chidren Steve and Maryanna Karr, Linda and Bill Foster and Stan and Arlene Karr, and Robin Stephens. Nephew Eric and Janie Stephens, and their children and grandchidren. Grandchildren Paul and Giselle Foster, David and Leah Foster, Tami Foster, Stacie and Darald Turner, Michelle Ferguson, Jennifer and Katie Karr, Clarissa and Michael Stephens. 15 Great Grand children, and 4 Great Great Grand chilren. Bob lived a Blessed Life. He was not limited by his environs and managed to get the most out of everything he endeavored to pursue. He was always a pleasure to visit with. It took the most unprecedented of circumstances to remove him from our lives. Perhaps a fitting end to a life of a man who lived through many other unprecedented times in our history.