L. William “Bill” Stephens, a resident of Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, formerly of Parsippany, NJ, passed away on Monday, January 9, 2023 at the age of 101. He was the loving husband of the late Lorraine Frances (Adolph) Stephens, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage at the time of her passing in 2010. Born in Bordentown, NJ, he was the son of the late Lewis P. and Eliza Anna (Nelson) Stephens. Bill was a graduate of Bordentown High School, class of 1939. Following high school, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946, attaining the rank of Aviation Radioman Petty Officer 2nd Class. Bill then went on to attend Lafayette College and earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1950. He also attended Farleigh Dickinson College, earning a master’s degree in math in 1975. For his entire working career, he was employed as an electrical engineer, first for IT&T and later for CBS. Following retirement, Bill worked as a consultant and had a final retirement from the workforce at the age of 80. Being a man of great intelligence and intellect, Bill never stopped learning and challenging himself. He was a self-taught linguist, learning Russian, Greek, Hebrew, and Mandarin. He regularly solved crossword puzzles and cryptograms and even solved complex math problems for fun. Bill was also known for his dry, sarcastic wit. As a hobby, Bill had a passion for family genealogy, traveling extensively across New Jersey to research.
Bill is survived by his children, Joyce Galligan, wife of John, of Forked River, NJ, Jean Colarusso, wife of Bill, of Boyton Beach, FL, Joan Letham, wife of Bob, of Bridgend, Wales, U.K., William Stephens, husband of Wendy, of San Antonio, TX, Gail K. Stephens, of Buchanan, VA, and Thomas Stephens, of Ramsey, MN. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, Elaine French, wife of Bob, of VA, and a special friend, Lynda Frutchey, who was his stay and support for his years at QPRC. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Agnes Exner. Services will be announced at a later date. Private interment will take place at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bill’s memory to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association at billygraham.org/give/give-online, or to Samaritan’s Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org. Arrangements entrusted to Dewald Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc., Quarryville. To leave an online condolence, please visit Bill’s obituary at www.dewalds.com. Comments are closed.
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