Fred Dale Stephens

Fred Dale Stephens, devoted husband, father, grandfather and greatgrandfather, died on Saturday, December 19, 2015. He was born on May 21, 1923, in Mize, Mississippi to Jasper Cornelius and Lou Ella Ainsworth Stephens. Fred’s first job at age 18 was delivering milk door to door off a milk truck pulled by horses in Shreveport, Louisiana. This job lasted only about two weeks because he did not particularly care for this type of work. Fred then worked for Magnolia Packing Company from 1942 until 1945, when he decided to quit and further his education. He attended Meadows Draughon Business School and graduated in 1946. He began working at J. B. Beard Company and worked there about three years. He then worked at the Veterans Administration until 1952, when he began his lifelong career at Interstate Oil Pipeline Company. Fred met the love of his life, Bobbie, and they married on November 8, 1947. They lived in Shreveport, Louisiana. In 1961 Interstate Oil merged with Humble Oil Company, which later became Exxon Corporation, and the family moved to Houston, Texas. Fred retired in 1987 and they moved to Longview, Texas.

Fred is survived by his precious wife, Bobbie (Lula Mae) Giles Stephens; five children, Sharron Lee Stephens of Albany, Oregon; Ellen Wedelich and her husband Bill of Conroe, Texas; Jane Lanagan and her husband Tracy of Longview, Texas; Douglas Stephens and his wife Ester of Spring, Texas, and Amy Burton and her husband Mike of Baden Hills, Indiana; as well as 12 grandchildren and 8 greatgrandchildren. The family would like to thank all of the caregivers at Buckner and Texas Home Health Hospice for caring for Fred this past year. Funeral services will be held at Oakland Heights Baptist Church on Monday, December 28, at 10:00 AM. Memorial donations can be made to Buckner Westminster, Texas Home Health Hospice, or Oakland Heights Baptist Church.