Paula Harper Stephenson

Paula died peacefully from natural causes on August 3, 2022. She was born September 19, 1935 in Houston, Texas to Paul and Mary Harper. She was the older sister to Mary Lynn and Patrick. She attended high school at Incarnate Word Academy before enrolling at the University of Houston, where she earned a Bachelor degree in Music in 1953 and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She later attended Southern Methodist University where she earned a Masters of Music in Piano in 1963.

She married George Stephenson, Jr. of Houston on December 22, 1957. In the 1960’s George and Paula adopted two sons, George Philip and Charles Ryall, raising them in La Porte, Texas and Houston. The couple moved to Alexandria, Virginia in 2016 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. George passed in August 2016.

Paula is survived by her two sons, her daughters-in-law Betsy and Natalia, and her five grandchildren Grace, Abby, Jack, Sophia and Mary. Her beloved grandson Charlie Stephenson passed on July 10, 2022. She also leaves behind her 4 nieces Danae Stephenson (Martin), Dina Stephenson (John), Donya Stephenson, and Terry Overcash; nephew Paul Rauscher and her brother-in-law Bob Putnam.

Paula was an accomplished musician and a lifetime supporter of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Paula was a talented concert pianist and a devoted long-time member of the Tuesday Music Club in Houston. She taught hundreds of children and adults how to play the piano at her home in Houston and as a music teacher at the Kinkaid School.