Otis Ernest Stepp Jr. Jr.

Otis Ernest (“Ernie”) Stepp, Jr., age 86, died peacefully on May 4, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. He was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina on April 15, 1940, to the late Otis Ernest Stepp, Sr. and Flora Reid Stepp. Ernie grew up in Canton, North Carolina. When he was a teenager, he delivered coal for his dad’s coal yard, worked in his family’s grocery store, and was a DJ for the local radio station WWIT.

He attended Georgia Tech University and graduated from the University of North Carolina with a degree in Journalism. He later received his MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. After graduation from UNC Ernie spent 4 years active duty in the U.S. Air Force and later retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel. Ernie’s career spanned decades of work in public relations, sales, and executive recruiting. He especially enjoyed helping senior citizens by teaching Senior Education classes at TCC.

Ernie is survived by his wife of 62 years, Myra Kaye Stepp, his daughter Carol Stumbaugh and husband Michael, of Arlington, Texas, grandchildren Connor Lowen, of Mansfield, TX and Charlotte Lowen, of Austin, TX. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Gail Stepp, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Elizabeth Stepp and his brother, Mike Stepp.

In addition to spending time with family and friends and keeping up with current events, Ernie enjoyed making new friends wherever he went. He never met a stranger. Ernie will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend.

The family would like to thank St. Gabriel’s Hospice and Town Hall Estates for their kindness, dignity and care of Ernie.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to New World United Methodist Church, 2201 N. Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012 or a charity of your choice.