Joseph Richard Stephenson
March 20, 1919 — April 2, 2009
Joseph Stephenson
Joseph Richard Stephenson age 90, passed away April 2, 2009 in Mesquite, Nevada. Joe was born in Coalgate, Oklahoma March 20, 1919. His family moved to Superior Wyoming in the early 1920's and then later to PARCO (Sinclair, Wyo) where Joe graduated from Rawlins High School. Joe joined the US Navy and was assigned to the USS California BB-44. Joe was on the California Dec. 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor and is a Lifetime Member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Joe was reassigned to the USS Chicago CA-29 which was sunk at the Battle of Rennel Island. Joe also survived that attack and was Honorably Discharged from the United States Navy in 1943.
Joe returned to Sinclair Wyoming and married Juanita Lake, the couple moved to Laramie where Joe attended the University of Wyoming. They returned to Rawlins where Joe worked for Childress Electric and later the Northern Gas Company. In 1954 Joe moved his family to Saratoga, Wyoming where he was the Branch Manager for the Northern Gas Company in Saratoga.
Joe and Juanita devoiced in 1964, Joe married Darlene Dunn in 1966. Joe retired from the Northern Gas Company in 1976 and moved to Moab Utah. Joe and Darleen returned to Saratoga and worked at Old Baldy Club until Darleen retired. The couple traveled the United States for the next several years and a trip to Australia and New Zealand.
Joe and Darleen lived in Las Vegas, Cheyenne and finally in Mesquite, Nevada, Joe kept saying that cold weather and shoveling snow was not to his liking.
Joe was preceded in death by Rose Stephenson (mother), Raymond Stephenson (step father), and Darlene Stephenson (wife). He is survived by three children, Laurena Nixon, MerleAnn Meredith and Gary Stephenson, 7 Grandchildren and 12 Great Grandchildren.
Joe was a member of The Greatest Generation, a Pearl Harbor Survivor, a Loving Father and Friend. Joe was a true American Patriot, God Bless and Keep him.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations can be made to Virgin Valley Hospice.