E. D. Stephens

E.D. (Steve) Stephens of Mossyrock, WA passed away on April 15, 2026 after a short illness. He was 93 years old.

Steve was born in Kennett, Missouri on April 4, 1933, to Charlie and Flossie (Duke) Stephens

He is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Mary Lou (Gilbert) Stephens, daughter Denise (Dave) Ganz, and sons Chuck (Julie) Stephens and, Dale (Mandy) Stephens, grandchildren Josh Stephens, Devin Ganz, Ashley (Will) Stephens-Wilber, Brad (Yuqi) Lorenzen, Bridgette (Rob) Lorenzen-Willing, Shawn Stephens, Justin Stephens, Jaxon Stephens, and three great grandchildren, Luke Lorenzen, Vivienne Willing and little Wilber almost here. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Charlie and Flossie (Duke) Stephens, a daughter, Debbie Stephens-Castillo, his brother Wesley Stephens and his sister Melissa (Dimple) Daniels.

When he was seven years old his family moved to California’s Central Valley. At the age of 19, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served from 1952 to 1956 as a Jet Engine Mechanic.  In May 1952 he went through the Panama Canal on the aircraft carrier USS Tripoli to Germany where he served for two years. He also served in Jordan and Lebanon. Steve was stationed in Moses Lake, WA when he met his future wife, Mary Lou Gilbert. While overseas he had the opportunity to tour The Netherlands, Belgium and Israel. He was Honorably Discharged in March 1956. Steve then few from Germany to New York via an Air Force transport flight, then hitchhiked to Selah, WA where his fiancé Mary Lou Gilbert and his car were waiting for him.

On July 20, 1956 he married Mary Lou Gilbert in Selah, WA. They moved to Seattle, WA where he worked for The Boeing Company. In 1958 Steve enrolled at Edison Technical School, taking night classes, and trained for two years to become an Appliance Repair Technician. He opened Stephens Appliance repair in Miday, WA in 1960. In 1961 Steve purchased his first Corvair Rampside pickup truck and had the “famous” Stephens Appliance logo painted on the sides of the truck. In 1969 the family moved Sunnyside, WA, opening Stephens Appliance Repair in Sunnyside in 1972. In 1998 Steve and Mary Lou “retired” to Mossyrock, WA where he again opened Stephens Appliance Repair. He worked for several years and had a partnership with Morton’s Appliances in Morton, WA to do their repair work.

Steve and Mary Lou were members of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) while living in Sunnyside. In Mossyrock they attended the Mossyrock Assembly of God Church. Steve was a longtime member of the Columbia Basin Corvairs car club. He owned several Corvairs including pickups, vans, coupes and a convertible, showing a few in local car shows. Each of the Stephens children learned to drive in a Corvair. His son, Dale is also a longtime member of the Columbia Basin Corvairs car club and his sons are avid Corvair enthusiasts.

Steve started doing jail ministry while living in Sunnyside and continued in Lewis County when they moved to Mossyrock. Steve and Mary Lou volunteered for many years at the Lewis County Union Gospel Mission.

In Lui of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Operation Christmas Child. You my donate through https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/             or through Mossyrock Assembly of God Church at 101 Mossyrock Ave, Mossyrock, WA 98564, phone 1-360-983-3342.

Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Lower Valley Memorial Gardens, Sunnyside, WA.   Those wishing to sign Steve's online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com  Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. 

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