Fred Thomas Stephenson, 86, of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Stephenson was born on Sept. 25, 1938, in Four Oaks (Johnston County) North Carolina to the late James Thomas and Beatrice Langdon Stephenson. He was an alumni of Virginia Military Institute, class of 1961, and is honored on the VMI Wall of Valor. During 20 years of service in the U.S. Army and three tours in Vietnam, he was awarded numerous medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Vietnam Service Medal w/1 Silver Service Star and 3 Bronze Service Stars, Air Medal with 29 Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, & Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea). As an Army Aviator, he flew the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog and the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk. After retiring as a Major, he became a Flight Simulator Instructor, training pilots in the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, Bell UH-1 "Huey," and the Boeing AH-64 Apache.
As a man with a strong Christian faith, Mr. Stephenson ministered in churches through music and guitar, especially to Senior Adults who were homebound and those in assisted living facilities.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Hazel Gray Stephenson Creech and Don Walton Stephenson.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 62 years, Sara Kathryn Gunter Stephenson; daughter, Margaret Ellen (Richard) Lukens; grandchildren, Joshua Thomas Lukens, Katherine Alyse Lukens, and Rachel Anne Lukens; sister, LaRue Stephenson Whitley; nieces, Deborah Creech Dupree, Victoria Ewing Brosseau, and Rebecca Ewing; nephews, Tim Creech, William Ray "Billy" Creech and Gunter Scott Lawler; sisters-in-law, Nancy Gunter Lawler and Francine Stephenson.
Graveside services will be held on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery with Rev. Ed Salter officiating. Full military honors will be presented by American Legion Post #106.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m. at Rock Creek Fellowship, 5209 Lula Lake Road, Lookout Mountain.
Online condolences may be shared at ryanfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ryan Funeral Home & Crematory, Trenton, GA.