Billy J. “Steve” Stephenson, Jr.

Our beloved Billy J. “Steve” Stephenson, Jr., of Georgetown passed away on October 4, 2022 at the age of 72. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Steve was a faithful servant to his nation and community who lived his life with integrity, loved a good joke, was an avid sports fan and traveled the world.

Steve was born in Norfolk, Virginia, to Barbara and Billy J. Stephenson, Sr. He graduated from Princess Anne High School with honors and attended Virginia Tech, earning a B.S. in Psychology. He was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force in 1972 and obtained his master’s degree in Personnel Management. He met his wife Patti shortly after college graduation and proposed after only five days, knowing immediately that she was the love of his life.

Steve was known for giving 110 percent in everything he did. In his Air Force career, he achieved the rank of Colonel and several honors including the Top Action Officer Award from both Admiral William Crowe and General Colin Powell while he served at the Pentagon on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As the Director of Manpower for U.S. Forces in Europe and then the Deputy Director for Plans and Programs he helped direct the drawdown of 10 bases and 60,000 personnel in Europe following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Steve then became the Professor of Aerospace Studies at both Colorado State and Northern Colorado Universities. He led that unit to selection for the Right of Line Award as the Top AFROTC program in the northwest and one of the top four in the U.S.

After retiring from 26 years of active service, Steve’s passion for education led him to become the Department Head for the AFJROTC at Rockingham County High School in Reidsville, NC., which was in the top 10 nationwide before he retired from teaching.

Following his final retirement, he moved to Georgetown. He was a strong believer in giving back and volunteered as a mentor to elementary school students, with Meals on Wheels and Helping Hands, and as a trustee of the St. John’s United Methodist Church.

Steve loved sports of all kinds and was a devoted New York Yankees, Virginia Tech Hokies, and Green Bay Packers fanatic. His mother and father were world travelers and passed this passion on to Steve, who visited more than 50 countries over his incredible life.

Steve lost his father in 2016 and his mother less than two weeks before his own passing. He is survived by his wife, Patti, who stood by his side during his five-year battle with cancer, as well as his sister, Linda (Keith) Wood, and brother Scott (Nancy) Stephenson. He had two children, Jeff (Stasia Hause) Stephenson and daughter Jenna (Jason) Pierce, and three grandchildren, Clara Stephenson, Valen and River Pierce.

Steve’s legacy will live on in the indelible mark he left upon all who met him. He will always be with us in our hearts.

A memorial service will be held on October 15, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. at St. John’s United Methodist Church (311 East University Avenue, Georgetown, Texas, 78626). For those that wish to honor Steve’s memory, flowers or memorials may be sent to the church, or the family suggests a donation to Helping Hands of Georgetown or Hospice Austin.