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Charlie R. Stevens


Charlie R. Stevens

Charlie Raymon “Buck” Stevens, 97, of Marietta, Oklahoma, formerly of the Camp Wood area, died on April 26, 2020, at his residence in Marietta.

Visitation was held on April 29, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Watts Funeral Home. A private graveside service with military honors will be held at McAlister Cemetery in Carter County, Oklahoma, with Clyde Lindsey officiating.

Stevens was born on Oct. 17, 1922, in Waurika, Oklahoma, to Sara Alida (Robbins) and Joseph Millage Stevens.

Stevens spent most of his childhood between Texas and Love County, Oklahoma, in the cotton fields.

When he was in his 20s, he decided to join the United States Army Air Corp during World War II. In 1944, while stationed in Lavenham, England, he flew 35 missions, 20 as a nose-gunner in a B-24 and 15 as a tail-gunner in a B-17. Two of those missions were completed on D-Day. For his service Stevens was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with three oak clusters (one for every 10 missions), the Army Good Conduct Medal, America’s Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, an Overseas Bar, and four Bronze Battle Stars.

Stevens married Edith LaNell Shults on March 28, 1945, in Ft. Worth. She preceded him in death on April 12, 2016.

After his service, he worked in construction in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. He helped build a hospital in Ardmore and then worked there as an orderly.

Stevens worked on a farm in Eastman, Oklahoma, and drove a school bus in the early 1950s.

In 1955 they moved to Texas where he worked as an aircraft mechanic for the Lackland Airforce Base and Kelly Airforce Base, retiring in 1975 at the age of 53.

After his retirement, Buck and LaNell traveled extensively, and he served as a caretaker at the Girl Scout Camp Jo-Jan-Van near Camp Wood.

After retiring from the Girl Scout Camp, they made their home on the Nueces River near Camp Wood.

In 2013 they moved back to Greenville, Oklahoma, to enjoy retirement.

According to the family, Stevens was a family man that enjoyed going to Braum’s, playing games, and traveling. They said one of his favorite destinations was the Texas Hill Country surrounding the Nueces River. He also traveled to the WWII Reunions with the 487th Bomb Group that were held in different states every year. The family said he also enjoyed piddling in his shop either making bird feeders, doing carpentry or mechanical work, and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed camping and fishing.

He is survived by son, Gary Stevens and wife, Beverly, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma; two daughters, Louise Harris and husband, Lonnie, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Debra Siller and husband, Lee, of Greenville, Oklahoma; brother, Larry Stevens of Overbrook, Oklahoma; sister, Jo Scott of Skiatook, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers will be Henry Dennis, Russell Stevens, Stanley Stevens, Randy Stevens, Roy Cunningham, Mark Hill, Bryan Bronder, Scott Bronder, Ethan Stevens, Stephen Shults and Tim Hostetler.

He was preceded in death by his wife; both parents; infant son, Roger Keith Stevens; brother, Loran Stevens; and three sisters, Ozelle Hostetler, Marie Cunningham, and Ida Beatrice “Dude” Cunningham.

Condolences may be left online at www.wattsfuneralhome.com.

Flanagan-Watts, www.wattsfuneralhome.com

Charlie R. Stevens

Charlie R. Stevens

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