30. David Robert Stephens
was born on Feb 24 1918 in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois. David was born
on a Sunday at Aurora Hospital according to a Certificate of Birth, registered
No. 152. He was delivered by the same doctor that delivered his triplet sisters,
Dr. W.H. Schwingel. He was educated in 1938 in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois.
David attended Aurora College in Aurora, Illinois, the same college as his father
Thaddeus, sister Miriam, and brother Owen. He served in the military in 1945
in United States and Brazil. Uncle Dave's wife, Jeanne Stephens tells that Dave
was a Staff Sergeant in the US Army Air Corp. He served during World War II.
He served at the Washington Airport in Seattle in the Air Force Weather Bureau,
a base in Alexandria, Virginia, and he taught Air Force cadets at Grand Rapids
Michigan. Dave was also stationed at Chanute Air Force base, another base in
Asheville, North Carolina, and went for officer training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
Dave was also sent to Natall, Brazil to serve in what was a jump off point for
the Air Force to the Azores and Casa Blanca. Dave is to date (1995) the only
family member to visit the continent of South America. He was Honorably Discharged
from the Army on January 9, 1946 at Seymour Johnson Field in North Carolina.
Sergeant Stephens received the following military service medals: American Theatre
Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Natal Brazil Service Stripe, World War II
Victory Campaign Medal.
Honorable Discharge
This is to certify that
David R. Stephens 16 037 126 Technical Sergeant 66th Army Air Force Base Unit
He was a in 1960 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. Dave worked for Central
Soya (the same company as his brother-in-law Richard Brake) as a livestock feed
rep. He also worked for Honnigers and owned 7 different restaurants during his
lifetime. He was in 1994 in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee. Dave and
his wife Jeanne were Presbyterian. Jeanne said that her husband Dave was baptized
many years ago in Aurora, Illinois. He died on Jan 26 1994 in Chattanooga, Hamilton
County, Tennessee. Uncle Dave died on a Wednesday at 6:37pm. He lived 75 years,
11 months, and 2 days. He was buried on Jan 28 1994 in Chattanooga, Hamilton
County, Tennessee. His funeral was on a Friday afternoon. Pallbearers were:
Jim Stephens, Richard Brake, John Brake, Jeff Watters, and Bill Massa.
Uncle Dave is buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery, Section BBB, Grave
299. This National Cemetery is where over 31,000 veterans are buried on the
120 acre slopes. Upon visiting Uncle Dave's grave site, it is overwhelming to
see row after row of those that gave the supreme sacrifice for country and fellow
man. Uncle Dave is among those who gave a lifetime of service in the military.
Near the section where Uncle Dave is buried is 12,956 graves, all of whom died
in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. The majority of those being from the Federalist
troops.
He was married to Jeanne Marie Brake (daughter of
Ulrich Richard Brake Sr. and Lola Maud Feasel) on Sep 5 1942
in Roseville, Warren County, Illinois. David and Jeanne were married at the
First Baptist Church by the father of the Groom, Rev. Thaddeus L. Stephens.
Witnesses were Miss Janet Touhy and David's brother Harley Stephens. Aunt Jeanne
tells the story that on her wedding day, she was very nervous. Just prior to
the wedding ceremony, her father-in-law to be talked with her and she asked him
to keep the service as brief as possible due to her nerves. She then tells that
he complied and that she knew the Reverend Stephens was going to be a good father-in-law.
Richard and Lola were married on a Tuesday. Jeanne
Marie Brake was born on Aug 15 1921 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.
Jeanne was born on a Monday. The birth certificate for Jeanne Marie Brake Stephens,
incorrectly lists her middle name as Luella instead of Marie. In questioning
her about it she says that she has no idea of where the error came from. She
was delivered by Dr. H.V. Blosser. She was educated in 1942 in DeKalb, DeKalb
County, Illinois. Jeanne attended Northern Illinois University for three years
and majored in Fine Arts with a minor in Industrial Arts. Jeanne is currently
(1995) a resident of Hixson just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. David Robert
Stephens and Jeanne Marie Brake had the following children:
53 i.
David Robert Stephens Jr. was buried in Feb 1952 in Washington, Franklin
County, Missouri. Dave and Jeanne's infant child is buried in the Presbyterian
Cemetery in Washington, Missouri. He was born on Feb 11 1952 in Washington,
Franklin County, Missouri. He was christened on Feb 17 1952 in Washington, Franklin
County, Missouri. He died on Feb 18 1952 in Washington, Franklin County, Missouri.
+54 ii.
James David Stephens.
+55 iii.
Lynn Ann Stephens.
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