Roger Earl Stephens, of Huntsville, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 29th, 2018. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Nancy Wall Stephens; daughters, Mary Catherine Stephens and Rachel Heavers and husband, Ian; grandchildren, Ellen Fairley Heavers and Robert Mial Heavers; and sisters, Helen Edwardsen and Peggy Aderholdt of Charlotte, NC. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Harold Raymond Stephens.
Born on November 26th, 1944 to Roger and Catherine Stephens of Charlotte, NC, Roger was a graduate of Dilworth Elementary School, Sedgefield Junior High, and Myers Park High School. He majored in English and French Literature at St. Andrews College in Laurinburg, NC and received his masters from the University of Oklahoma. Since 1966, Roger worked for the Department of Defense at Redstone Arsenal, most recently as an intelligence analyst at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. He was highly decorated by the agency and received multiple awards including the National Intelligence Superior Service Medal and the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal in 2014. His quiet dedication to his work and service of more than 50 years continued until the day before he passed away.
An intrepid traveler, he visited nearly all the National Parks with his family over the years. Roger loved his annual fly-fishing trips to Montana and spent much of his free time cultivating his year-round vegetable garden. He loved spending time with his kids and grandchildren in Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC. He was a licensed pilot, a coach, and a history buff, but the role he treasured the most was granddad.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 5th at Laughlin Service Funeral Home with the funeral service immediately following in the chapel. A graveside service will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
