Stephen Robert Verges

Stephen Robert Verges, age 82, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away unexpectedly on August 4, 2026. He was a thoughtful, loving, and kind father and widower, uncle, godfather, activist, volunteer, good neighbor, historian, numismatist, antiquities expert, and giving friend. Stephen will be missed greatly in many intimate and meaningful ways for which there are no words.

Stephen was born on August 24, 1943, in Dallas, Texas, to James Thomas Verges (Demetrios Bergos), Senior, and Helen Catherine Wallace (Wolosz) Verges as their second bundle of joy and son. Stephen’s heritage stemmed from his Greek father and Polish mother. His early years in Deep Ellum were spent reading, collecting stamps, and learning about history related to his family’s European cultures and other worldly events. Stephen attended Woodrow Wilson High School and was known for his contemplative demeanor. Upon graduation, he travelled to Oklahoma to attend the University of Oklahoma and study archaeology, geology, and history. Stephen loved to read anything and everything; no subject left undiscovered!

In 1964, he met fellow student Linda Chandler, and they married in December 1965. In 1966, Stephen was at the Department of Geography at North Texas State University [now University of North Texas], in Denton, Texas, while Linda worked at Monticello Female Seminary [now Lewis and Clark Junior College] in Godfrey, Illinois (August 1965 to July 1966) and then at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas (July 1966 to August 1967). During the civil rights movement in the United States, Stephen participated in and demonstrated in various civil rights marches, no doubt influenced by his father’s acceptance of people regardless of race, religion, sex, or economic position.

Stephen and Linda were reunited in the fall of 1967 when Linda began post-graduate studies at North Texas State University, in Denton, Texas. Another brief period of long-distance activities began in September 1969, when Linda began commuting to Lawton, Oklahoma and became an English instructor at Cameron College [now Cameron University]. In the spring of 1970, they moved to Lawton, OK in a more united capacity. And in January 1971, Linda and Stephen’s daughter, Michelle, was born. From 1971 to 1972, they both enjoyed participating in the Lawton Community Theatre, and Stephen starred as Big Jule in the local production of “Guys and Dolls.” When Linda’s teaching tenure at Cameron ended in the summer of 1972, Stephen, Linda, and baby Michelle moved to Tempe, Arizona. Stephen pursued post-graduate studies and worked at Arizona State University from 1973 to 1974. Early in 1976, Stephen, Linda, and Michelle moved to San Leandro, and then Hayward, California. From mid-September 1976 until November 1978, Stephen excelled in work with the Simmons Mattress Company in San Francisco, becoming a lead auditor for their internal risk management division. In November 1978, the family returned to Phoenix, Arizona, as Stephen accepted a transfer to a Simmons location in Paradise Valley.

In 1981, Stephen decided to pursue a lifelong dream to operate his own business, The Laurel Coin Company, Limited, in wholesale numismatic materials. He was a lifelong member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and truly appreciated the value and significance of the historical, cultural, scientific, and educational elements represented in numismatic materials.

Stephen was actively engaged with local political chapters of the Democratic Party in Phoenix and had affiliations with leaders such as Senator Barry Goldwater. Stephen and Linda took time to volunteer annually with the local Phoenix Public Broadcasting Station fundraising drives and take donation calls at the local television station. They also participated with the OU Alumni Association chapters in Arizona and California and attended events, especially during football season. In January 1995, Linda moved to Spencer, Oklahoma, to care for her Mother who had been diagnosed with cancer. After Linda’s Mother passed in June 1995, Linda remained in Spencer, while Stephen continued to operate his business in Phoenix - separate but never apart in their hearts. Stephen volunteered with the Arizona Humane Society for over 17 years. He supported the Paradise Valley thrift store by repairing and assessing donations for resale, which the charity sold to the benefit of animals.

Stephen’s interests were wide and eclectic. He enjoyed comedic antics of Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello, Bob Hope, Ma & Pa Kettle, George Carlin, Ernie Kovacs, John Belushi, the entire Monty Python’s Flying Circus repertoire and motley crew, Benny Hill and, of course, the Marx Brothers. He loved a wide range of music from classical, Gregorian Chants, Baroque, Opera, Big Band (favorites like Glenn Miller, the Dorsey brothers, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Duke Ellington) and Jazz (favorites such as Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Billie Holiday) and especially the Beatles. Stephen had great affection for the movies Donovan's Reef and The Bells of Saint Mary; two darling movies with John Wayne and Bing Crosby. Authors that Stephen read and shared were H.P. Lovecraft, Dorothy Parker, Henry Miller, Robert A. Heinlein, Joseph Heller, Jack Kerouac, and Ernest Hemingway. Stephen was more than adept at reading people just as well as treasured books and had a way of understanding people and our collective human condition that was both compassionate and precise.

Stephen is survived by his daughter, Michelle of Denver, Colorado; his older brother, James Thomas Verges, Junior, and wife, Deanna Lee Kemper Verges of Medford, Oregon; niece Anastasia Alexandra Verges and husband Jacob Christian Turrell, of Sugar Run, Pennsylvania; nephew John Thaddeus Verges and wife Jill Verges, of Bells, Texas; nephew Philip Michael Verges and wife Heidi Verges, of Dallas, Texas; and niece-in-law Laurie Sutor, widow of Keith Robert Verges.

He is preceded by his wife of 53 years, Linda Kay Chandler Verges, January 8, 2019; his nephew and godson, Keith Robert Verges, September 12, 2016; his Mother, Helen Catherine Wallace (Wolosz) Verges, October 17, 1990; and his Father, James Thomas Verges (Demetrios Bergos), Senior, September 29, 1965.

A viewing and visitation service is offered on Friday, September 11, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with an intimate eulogy and celebration of life portion from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sparkman Funeral Home, 1029 South Greenville Ave, Richardson, Texas 75081. The eulogy and celebration portion will be available as a streaming service to accommodate anyone unable to travel.

Any tributes or memories to be shared during the celebration portion can be emailed to [email protected]. Celebrating Stephen with loving family and friends and memorable stories is how we will honor him. Graveside service to be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., at the historic Oakland Cemetery, 3900 Oakland Circle, Dallas, Texas 75215.

Stephen cared greatly about animals. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made either to the World Wildlife Fund in memory of Stephen Robert Verges; WWF In Memoriam Donations; or to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; ASPCA In Memoriam Donations.