Fred Thomas Stephenson

Fred Thomas Stephenson, 86, of Lookout Mountain, GA, passed away on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Stephenson was born on September 25, 1938 in Four Oaks (Johnston County) North Carolina to the late James Thomas & Beatrice Langdon Stephenson. He was an alumni of Virginia Military Institute, class of 1961, and is honored on the VMI Wall of Valor. During twenty years of service in the U.S. Army and three tours in Vietnam, he was awarded numerous medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Vietnam Service Medal w/1 Silver Service Star and 3 Bronze Service Stars, Air Medal with 29th Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, & Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea). As an Army Aviator, he flew the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog and the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk. After retiring as a Major, he became a Flight Simulator Instructor, training pilots in the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, Bell UH-1 “Huey,” and the Boeing AH-64 Apache. As a man with a strong Christian faith, Mr. Stephenson ministered in churches through music & guitar, especially to Senior Adults who were homebound and those in assisted living facilities. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Hazel Gray Stephenson Creech & Don Walton Stephenson. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 62 years, Sara Kathryn Gunter Stephenson; daughter, Margaret Ellen (Richard) Lukens; grandchildren, Joshua Thomas Lukens, Katherine Alyse Lukens, & Rachel Anne Lukens; sister, LaRue Stephenson Whitley; nieces, Deborah Creech Dupree, Victoria Ewing Brosseau, & Rebecca Ewing; nephews, Tim Creech, William Ray “Billy” Creech & Gunter Scott Lawler; sisters-in-law, Nancy Gunter Lawler & Francine Stephenson. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery with Rev. Ed Salter officiating. Full military honors will be presented by American Legion Post #106. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at Rock Creek Fellowship, 5209 Lula Lake Road, Lookout Mountain, GA. Online condolences may be shared at ryanfuneralhome.net. Arrangements are under the direction of Ryan Funeral Home & Crematory, Trenton, GA.

Fred Thomas Stephenson

September 25, 1938 - October 26, 2024