Carolyn S. Stephens

Mrs. Carolyn Stephens passed away peacefully of natural causes on Thursday, July 18, 2024, in San Antonio, with her loving husband and son by her side when she went home to the Lord. She is now with her beloved pets that had previously crossed the rainbow bridge.

Carolyn was a wife, mother, grandmother, veteran, teacher, and dog lover who enjoyed spending time at the beach.

She was born to Air Force Chaplain Jim and his wife Mary. She grew up in many places and fondly remembers her elementary school years in Germany. Carolyn graduated from Southern Illinois University with an Education Degree. Her first job was teaching in an elementary school near Chicago.

Following a year teaching, Carolyn decided to join the Air Force as a Personnel Officer. Her last active duty assignment was as an Air Force ROTC instructor at Manhattan College in Bronx, NY. She met her husband, Eric at Bolling AFB. They were married on June 1, 1983 at Winter Park, Florida by Chaplain Jim.

Son, Shawn was born in Ohio where both Carolyn and Eric worked at Wright-Patterson AFB. Carolyn retired from the Air Force after a few years moving to San Antonio. She continued to use her teaching skills as a Cub Scouts Den Mother with Shawn.Carolyn loved the beach and enjoyed water time in Florida, California and Texas. She earned her scuba diver certification along with Eric and Shawn. Multiple summer vacations were enjoyed in Hawaii, Florida and Caribbean diving spots.

After Shawn went off to college, she combined her love of pets and teaching by volunteering with the CARE Therapy Dog program in San Antonio. She trained Venus, her beloved Papillon, to be a Therapy Dog. Together Carolyn with Venus would meet children at the local library where the children would overcome their reading challenges by reading books to Venus. Carolyn also volunteered at Alzheimer facilities where the patients would interact with Venus.

She was in full Grandma mode while spending a week in June with her granddaughter Marie. Carolyn was all smiles as she read books with Marie…a teacher until the end.

The family will receive friends for memorial visitation on Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 1:00-3:00 PM, at Porter Loring Mortuary North. A private committal service will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Therapy Animals of San Antonio, https://therapyanimalssa.org.

MEMORIAL VISITATIONSATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 20241:00-3:00 PMPORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH2102 NORTH LOOP 1604 EASTSAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78232

GRAVESIDE SERVICETHURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 202410:00 AMFORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY1520 HARRY WURZBACH ROADSAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78209