RICHARD MILTON STEVENS

SEPTEMBER 18, 1930 – MAY 17, 2018

Richard was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. At the age of three his father died, and Richard was placed in the German Protestant orphanage of New Orleans. At the age of sixteen he joined the Army Air Corp. After his three years of service he returned to New Orleans to work for Southern Railroad. In 1952 he joined the US Navy and was stationed in Memphis, Tennessee where he met Mary Lou Gist. They married in 1954. He was most proud of rising to the rate of Aviation Electronics Technician Senior Chief in a short time. He loved the Navy and served 22 years deploying on the USS Coral Sea during the Vietnam Conflict (66-67-68) with squadron VAW11 E2 aircraft, based in Coronado California. At the time of his retirement in 1971 he was serving on the Admiral’s Staff in Alameda, CA. He later worked as a civilian employee for NASEU, Moffett Field as a Field Service Rep. He retired after 20 years to Stockton, California. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Lodi. His life centered around his family.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Lou Stevens

Four children:

Richard Stevens of Fredericksburg, Virginia (wife Galina)

Daniel Stevens of El Dorado Hills, California (wife Kimberly)

Julie Murray of Rancho Cordova, California

James Stevens of Lodi, California (wife Gabriele)

Ten grandchildren:

Erik Stevens of Lodi

James H. Stevens of Lovettsville, Virginia (wife Natalia)

Jason Murray of San Jose, California (wife Anna)

Shannon Guest of Camino California (husband Andrew)

Mary Lou Overton of Arizona (husband Kyle)

Jessica Murray of Rancho Cordova, California

Samantha Stevens of Southern California

Katie Albert of Fullerton, California (husband Brian)

Amanda Stevens of Roseville, California

Anna Stevens of Fredericksburg, Virginia

Thirteen great-grand children

Friends may visit Thursday from 4-6 p.m. at Donahue Funeral Home 123 N. School St. and are invited to attend services on Friday at 9 a.m. at Donahue Funeral Home.  Interment will be held at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. on Friday concluding the service. Donahue Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.