Brunswick- Robert John Stevens, 89, a longtime resident of Brunswick, died peacefully, Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Van Rensselaer Manor with his family by his side, following a long illness.
Born in Elmira, January 16, 1927, Robert was the son of the late Louis L. and Ruth A. (Brink) Stevens and for over 65 years the husband of Louise (Hoyt) Stevens of North Greenbush who survives. Robert and Louise were married on March 25, 1951 at the McKendree Methodist Church in Candor, NY.
As a young man living in the Candor area, Bob attended Stanford Bridge High School, was a volunteer fireman, loved to hunt and fish and worked as a self employed excavation contractor. He enjoyed operating heavy equipment and often said, “I can make my Gradall stop on a dime and give you nine cents change.”
On January 30, 1945, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was veteran of World War II. After serving at several naval bases and aboard the U.S.S. Denver, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Seaman First Class on August 2, 1946.
In 1964 Robert relocated with his young wife to the Brunswick area and studied hard to earn his GED certificate and become a “well trained” Union Electrician. For over 25 years he was employed by the I.B.E.W. Union, Local #236 in Latham. After more than 25 years of service, Bob retired in February 1990.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and in his quiet time enjoyed the hobbies of owning and piloting his Piper “Cub” airplane and playing golf.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children; Deborah M. and William G. Dayton of Brunswick, Theresa L. Fernet of Brunswick, Rebecca L. and Ralph Herb of The Villages, FL and Robert L. and Pamela Stevens of Huntersville, NC, sisters; Betty Butterfield of Saratoga, Velma Wilson of Brunswick, Linda Budinger of Candor and Evelyn Hover of El Cajon, CA, eight grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by a brother and two sisters, the late Harold Stevens, Helen Shuler, and Marion O’Donnell.
A funeral service for Bob will be held on Friday, May 20, 2016, at 7:00 P.M., at the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 New York Route 7, located in Raymertown. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00-7:00 P.M. prior to the service. Burial with military honors will be held on Monday, May 23, 2016 at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Veterans Cemetery in Schuylerville at 2:30 P.M.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144 in memory of Robert J. Stevens.
Born in Elmira, January 16, 1927, Robert was the son of the late Louis L. and Ruth A. (Brink) Stevens and for over 65 years the husband of Louise (Hoyt) Stevens of North Greenbush who survives. Robert and Louise were married on March 25, 1951 at the McKendree Methodist Church in Candor, NY.
As a young man living in the Candor area, Bob attended Stanford Bridge High School, was a volunteer fireman, loved to hunt and fish and worked as a self employed excavation contractor. He enjoyed operating heavy equipment and often said, “I can make my Gradall stop on a dime and give you nine cents change.”
On January 30, 1945, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was veteran of World War II. After serving at several naval bases and aboard the U.S.S. Denver, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Seaman First Class on August 2, 1946.
In 1964 Robert relocated with his young wife to the Brunswick area and studied hard to earn his GED certificate and become a “well trained” Union Electrician. For over 25 years he was employed by the I.B.E.W. Union, Local #236 in Latham. After more than 25 years of service, Bob retired in February 1990.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and in his quiet time enjoyed the hobbies of owning and piloting his Piper “Cub” airplane and playing golf.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children; Deborah M. and William G. Dayton of Brunswick, Theresa L. Fernet of Brunswick, Rebecca L. and Ralph Herb of The Villages, FL and Robert L. and Pamela Stevens of Huntersville, NC, sisters; Betty Butterfield of Saratoga, Velma Wilson of Brunswick, Linda Budinger of Candor and Evelyn Hover of El Cajon, CA, eight grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by a brother and two sisters, the late Harold Stevens, Helen Shuler, and Marion O’Donnell.
A funeral service for Bob will be held on Friday, May 20, 2016, at 7:00 P.M., at the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 New York Route 7, located in Raymertown. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00-7:00 P.M. prior to the service. Burial with military honors will be held on Monday, May 23, 2016 at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Veterans Cemetery in Schuylerville at 2:30 P.M.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144 in memory of Robert J. Stevens.
