Robert Curtis Stevens

He was the third of six children born to George and Elizabeth Stevens.

Born on the family farm with no electricity or plumbing, he attended a one room school until the day after he turned 18 when he eagerly enlisted in the Army Air Corps to serve in World War II. After basic training he joined the 332nd combat cargo group, flying missions over the Himalayan Mountains into China.

Once the war ended, his unit was designated as essential to the mission of removing the Japanese from China, so he was not able to come home until June of 1946.

In September of that year he married Lenore Weeks in the Williston, North Dakota Methodist church and he then transitioned to the Air Force Reserves where he served over 30 years until retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Though he only attended high school for two years and never secured a High School Diploma, thanks to his military service and the GI bill he was accepted on a provisional basis at Utah State University where he graduated in 1950 with a degree in Business Administration.

After college they moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where Bob started his lifelong career with the Federal Government. His first job was as a uniformed patrolman working for the Atomic Energy Commission, and he was on duty when for one of the first times electricity was generated from nuclear power.

After passing the rigorous Civil Service Commission exam, in 1952 the family now with 3 children moved to Seattle where Bob worked as an investigator for the Civil Service Commission. The nature of Bob's work in the context of the Cold War necessitated frequent moves over the years: 1953 (Billings, MT), 1956 (Spokane, WA), 1960 (Seattle, WA), 1964 (Chambersburg, PA), 1968 (Philadelphia, PA), 1970 (Olney, MD), and 1972 (San Francisco, CA).

It was in Olney Maryland that Bob went to work for the Office of Emergency Preparedness (in an underground bunker) which was reorganized into FEMA in 1979. With that reorganization, the regional director of FEMA became a presidential appointment and Bob was the first FEMA appointee in San Francisco, CA by then president Carter.

Over the Office of Emergency Preparedness/FEMA years Bob directed the Federal response to over 60 disasters including Typhoon Pamela (Guam, 1976) and the Mt. St Helens Eruption (1980).

Bob retired in March of 1983 and moved to Grants Pass, Oregon. In addition to hunting and fishing, his retirement activities included teaching “55 Alive” drivers education, a Master Gardeners program, volunteering for the American Red Cross, assisting seniors with tax preparation as well as working with the Steelheader's Youth Angler Education program.

His life’s travels included visits to all 50 states, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings; his eldest daughter, Shirley Stevens; granddaughter, Jessica Lawhorn and his step-grandson, Joseph Harris.

Bob is survived by his loving bride of 77 years, Lenore; son, David and wife Laura; daughter, Peggy; son; Douglas and wife Debra; grandson, Brian and wife Emily; great grandchildren, Tyler and Vivian; granddaughter, Jessica and great-grandchildren, Lilah, Aubrey, Elara; granddaughter, Katie and wife Sam; grandson, Jackson and wife Kelly; granddaughter, Katie and husband Blake; Step-grandsons, Anthony and wife Tania; Jacob and wife Janet; step-great grandchildren, Trevor, Tripp, and Mia.

A visitation for Robert will be held on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist.

The funeral service will follow visitation and begin at 12:30 PM in the funeral home chapel.

A graveside service with military honors at 2:00 PM in the Chattanooga National Cemetery, 1200 Bailey Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37404 will conclude the day of life celebration.

Visit www.chattanoogavalleyviewchapel.com to share condolences and view the memorial video tribute.

Arrangements entrusted to Chattanooga Funeral Home, Valley View Chapel, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37421.