Rena Mae Stephenson

Rena Mae “Maizie” Stephenson, 86, from Willow Street, Pennsylvania, passed away January 11, 2015. Originally from Long Branch, New Jersey, she married Claude D “Steve” Stephenson, Jr. in 1949. As the wife of an Air Force officer with four children, Maizie became very adept at making new friends at whatever military base her husband was sent. During her husband's military career, Maizie volunteered with the Red Cross, was active in the Base Chapels and the Officer Wives' Club and as a Girl Scout Leader. Generous of her time and gracious to a fault, Maizie touched the lives of many she met and kept in touch with most for her entire life. After 30 years of military life, Maizie and Steve settled in Fairfax, Virginia, and became involved in many activities and organizations. Both were instrumental in organizing the Boomerangs Square Dance Teaching Council, which taught square dance classes in Northern Virginia, and where they became a popular team teaching couple; they were involved with many local square dance clubs and fundraisers such as the Annual Toys for Tots Dance; and belonged to the Washington Area Square Dance Cooperative Association (WASCA), helping with local and national conferences. Maizie and Steve were members of Fairfax United Methodist, where Maizie was a member of the United Methodist Women and helped with many church activities. In 2003, Maizie and Steve decided to retire from the Northern Virginia area and moved to the Willow Valley Retirement Communities in Willow Street, Pennsylvania. In 2004, Maizie lost her beloved Steve but stayed on at Willow Valley where she continued to make new friends and stay involved as much as possible.

Maizie was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 55 years, Claude D “Steve” Stephenson, Jr. USAF (Col, Ret.), father George P. Beaver, mother Sylvia, brother Milton Beaver, and son-in-law David Bruce Nash. She is survived by her daughter Cynthia Muncey and husband Mark Muncey, son Claude D Stephenson III and wife Zoe L. Economou, daughters Melinda Nash and Patricia Stephenson, sister Sylvia Privette, uncle Lockwood "Locky" Johnston and many nieces and nephews.