Lt. Col. Stephen R. Barth, U. S. Army Ret.

Lt. Col. Stephen R. Barth, U. S. Army Ret., age 61 of Temple, died Monday, July 1, 2013 at his residence. Services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, July 8, at Immanuel Baptist Church with Dr. Ron Milne officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at 2:00 PM at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be 3:00 - 5:00 PM Sunday at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. Steve was born on November 10, 1951 in College Station to Clifford and Edmee Barth. He graduated from Dickenson High School and attended Sam Houston State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was then commissioned into the U.S. Army as Second Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant he was stationed at Fort Hood and had his first tour of duty in South Korea. He was a Captain at Fort Polk, LA from 1980-1984 and was the Heavy Maintenance Company Commander in the 5th Mechanized Infantry Division. Steve was responsible for the direct support repair and maintenance of armored vehicles for three armor brigades. He developed a reputation during this time for achieving the impossible. As a Major, he was selected to be an Ordnance Assignments Officer at the Army's Personnel Command, and as a Lieutenant Colonel, Steve was then selected to command the 2nd Infantry Division's Forward Support Battalion along the DMZ in the Republic of South Korea. This was one of the most challenging and prestigious assignments for an Ordnance Officer. He was selected to attend the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, DC, in which only 10% of the Army's officers are selected for this highest level of professional schooling. His final assignment was with the Department of the Army Staff where he worked as a Logistics Specialist. While serving in the U.S. Army he obtained two separate Master's degrees. After his retirement from the military, Steve and his family moved back to Texas and found a home in Temple, where they joined the Immanuel Baptist Church. Steve met his future wife while attending SHSU and he married Cathy Lewis in Huntsville. They were happily married for 38 years. He was very proud of and loved his two sons, Justin and Kyle and Justin's new wife, Brennah, all living in Temple. He loved spending time with his family and besides his wife, sons and daughter-in-law, he is also survived by two brothers, Wayne Barth and wife, Genie of Fair Oaks Ranch; Dan Barth and wife Marie of Houston; three sisters, Carolyn Allison and husband Mike of Fruita, CO, Sally Guinane and husband Mike of Aurora, CO; Barbara Andersen and husband Zach of Seward, Alaska, and numerous family members and many devoted friends who will all miss Steve's delightful sense of humor, his strong will and his fearless and courageous approach to life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Ataxia Foundation, 2600 Fernbrook Lane, Suite 119, Minneapolis, MN 55447-4752 or to the Immanuel Baptist Church, 1401 W. Central Ave., Temple, TX 76504.