Charles W. Stephenson, 80, of 807 Allegheny Ave. Oil City, PA. died peacefully at home on Sunday Dec. 15, 2013 after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimers Disease.
Born Dec. 25, 1932 in Sharon, PA., he was the son of the late George W. Stephenson & I. Marie Henshaw Stephenson.
He graduated from Ridgway High School.
A veteran of the United States Army, he was a Corporal serving from March 26, 1953 until March 23, 1955 and had received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
On Feb. 4, 1956 he was married to the former Mary Jo DeStefano in St. Leo’s Church in Ridgway and she survives. Mr. Stephenson worked as a crew chief for National Fuel Gas Co. and retired in 1993 after 43 years of service with the company.
He was a member of St. Stephen’s Church, the Oil City Izaak Walton and a former member of the Oil City K of C.
He was a handyman, and could always be found tinkering in the basement or working on something for somebody.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was always with his kids or grandkids. He was a master at Flint Lock.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by five children, Jerry Stephenson & his wife Liz of Oil City, Julie Kelley & her husband Joseph of California, Mary Jane Verhoff & her husband Jeff of Oil City, Jeff Stephenson of Oil City, Suzanne Vavala & her husband Dino of Warren, PA., 10 grandchildren, Matt & Brett Stephenson, Savanah Goodwin & her husband Chris, Morgan Kelley, Kurt, Samantha Horne, Jonathan Verhoff, Renee Stephenson, Jennifer Douglas and Angelina Vavala, 2 step-grandchildren, James & Nina Vavala, 2 great grandchildren, Kyle Horne and Ellie Goodwin, one brother, Robert (Bob) Stephenson & his wife Sharyn of Oil City And several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Friends will be received from 2-4 and from 7-9 P.M. Thursday in the Reinsel Funeral Home & Crematory Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. Friday in St. Stephen’s Church with Rev. Matthew Ruyechan, Pastor, Presiding.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with Full Militray Honors accorded by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Stephen’s School 214 Reed St. Oil City, PA., St. Stephen’s Church , 210 Reed St. Oil City, PA. 16301or to the Oil City Chapter of the Izaak Walton P.O. Box 551 Seneca, PA. 16346
The family wishes to thank the VNA HOSPICE AND THE Asera Care Hospice for their Care.551 Seneca, PA. 16346