Joseph W. Stephens

Colonel Joseph W. Stephens, Jr., USAF (Retired) died Monday, September 10, 2007 at a local hospital. Services will be at 11:00 am Thursday, September 13, 2007 at Highland Church of Christ, 425 Highland Avenue, Abilene, Texas, with Dr. Barry Packer officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. J.W. Stephens, Jr. was born to J. Walter and Margaret Evans Stephens, in Post, Texas, on September 22, 1922. He attended Garza County Schools, and graduated from Post High School in 1939. He was an Eagle Scout. J.W. married Helen Nadine Kelly, of Stanton, on July 29, 1943 in Lubbock, Texas. Nadine preceded him in death on July 6, 2001. A veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, J.W. flew 40 B-24 Combat missions over Japanese held islands of Truk, Iwo Jima, Marcus, ChiChi Jima, HaHa Jima in World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 7 Air Medals, and Asiatic-Pacific Theatre with 3 Battle Stars, and earned the Legion of Merit, Army and Air Force Commendation medals, SAC Combat Readiness medal, and several lesser awards. J.W. returned to Lubbock in June, 1945, and worked for Elder Construction Company until rejoining the Army Air Corps in January, 1946. He then served in a variety of USAF assignments during 26 years of military service, among them Baee Civil Engineer, B-24, B-47 and B-52 Aircraft Commander, Squadron Commander, and Director of Command Control, Hq 2AF, SAC, a position from which he retired in March 1968 in the grade of Colonel. He served at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene from 1957 to 1965. Following his military service, J.W. served as General Manager of EMOT Federal Credit Union from 1969 to 1995. Colonel Stephens was a member of the Highland Church of Christ. He was a Life member of Post 2012 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Air Force Association, Retired Officers Association, 11th Bomb Group Association, Pampa Army Air Force Field Association, and inducted into the Pampa Panhandle Veterans Hall of Fame in 1968. He is survived by four children: Joseph W. Stephens, III and his wife Merry Sue of Abilene, Kenneth K. Stephens and his wife Linda, of Dallas, Diane C. Packer and her husband Barry, also of Dallas, and David K. Stephens of San Diego, California; seven grandchildren: Bradley Stephens, Kimberly Girard and her husband Tim, of Nashville, TN, Courtney, Christine, and Caroline Stephens, of Dallas, Collin Packer and his wife Holly, and Clark Packer of Abilene; two great-grandsons: William and Andrew Girard; three sisters: Allene McWhirter, of Austin, Mary Jo Cook, of Amarillo, and Janet Krister, of Colorado Springs, CO; two brothers: Dr. J. Pat Stephens, of Canyon and Bill Stephens, of Amarillo. Remembrances may be made in honor of Colonel Stephens to Highland Church of Christ, 425 Highland Avenue, Abilene, Texas 79605.