Betty Jo Stevens

Betty Jo Stevens of Wilmington, NC died after a brief illness on August 31,2024 at Novant's New Hanover Medical Center. She was born in Lodi, Ohio on November 30,1924 to Dr. David and Mrs. Pauline De Wolfe Dean. She was raised in Akron, Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Air Transportation. On August 31,1946 she married Herman "Steve" Stevens, the love of her life. She later received her teaching credentials from Youngstown State University and an M.E. in Reading from Westminster University. In Youngstown she was a Girl Scout Leader, a member of the Kirkmere Garden Club, and active in activities at Kirkmere School where she taught third grade. She was also active in the Mill Creek Women's Golf Association, the Panhellenic Council and in her sorority Pi Beta Phi.

In 1970, she moved with her husband to Wilmington, NC where he founded Southern Imports (Southco) importer of building supplies. In Wilmington she volunteered as a reading instructor in the New Hanover Public Schools and the Cape Fear Literacy Council. She was also active in The League of Women Voters where she served as president, the Red Cross Auxiliary and in the Presbyterian Women's Association of Winter Park Presbyterian Church. An active golfer, she brought her love of the game with her to Wilmington where she enjoyed playing at both the Wilmington Municipal Course and as a member at Pine Valley Country Club. She was a member of a neighborhood bridge club and loved her Fourth Wednesday Book Club members as well.

She and her husband Steve traveled the world and enjoyed many cruises to Alaska, Australia and Hawaii as well as attending many WWII Prisoner of War reunions throughout the nation and traveling on many golf outings throughout the Southeast.

She is predeceased by her parents, her husband Herman and two sons, Herman Junior and David, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, James and Phyllis Trowbridge and a nephew Mark Trowbridge. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Susan Stevens with whom she made her home and her nieces Kerry Trowbridge Walters (Rob), of Summerville, SC; Jo Trowbridge Kessler (John), of Charleston, WV; Betty Burdette (Robert) of Pawleys Island, SC and Mark's widow Suzanne Trowbridge. In addition, she leaves her great-nephews, James E. Trowbridge (Jennifer) of Myrtle Beach, SC; J. Zachary Kessler (Kelly Herson) of Ludlow, KY; James Stevens Kessler (Carlee) of Charleston, WV; W. Alexander Burdette of Pawleys Island, SC; Samuel H. Kessler of Charleston, WV; James T. Burdette (John Valgoi) of Manhattan, NY and great-niece Jane Walters Scibelli (Daniel) of Summerville, SC. Her great-grandnieces are Emiline and Addison Trowbridge of Myrtle Beach, SC.

Her family are immensely grateful for the caregivers provided by Griswold Home Care - Tiffany Galman, Jane Murphy and Stephanie Short. These extremely talented, caring and efficient women worked tirelessly to make Betty Jo's last year happy and meaningful. They were aided in this endeavor by nursing student Courtney Chaplain who helped Betty Jo retain physical strength.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Winter Park Presbyterian Church, 4501 Wrightsville Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403. A brief reception will be held following the ceremony in the church's Chadburn Hall.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the church or to the Cape Fear Literacy Council.

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