Charles O. Stevens, Jr.

Charles O. Stevens, Jr. of Bluffton, Indiana, passed away Sept. 11, 2024, at age 94.  He was born on Jan.13, 1930 to the late Dillie Vaughan and Charles Stevens, Sr. in Homestead, Florida.  In 1967 he moved to Indiana where he married Alice (Schug) Habegger of Berne, Indiana at the Nazarene Church in Huntington, Indiana in 1971, and she preceded him in death on July 27, 2021.

Charles joined the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and served as an aircraft electrical system instructor.  After his active duty he was employed by LB Smith Aircraft (Miami, Florida) as an electrical mechanic, ultimately achieving an electrical engineer position.  After LB Smith, Charles was employed as a packaging designer at Honeywell Aerosmith (St. Petersburg, Florida), then at Magnavox (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) and later at Bendix Aerosmith in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  After Bendix, Charles worked at various small engineering firms and eventually was employed by Bechtel Power Corp in Ann Arbor, Michigan as a control system design engineer on coal and nuclear power plants.  He retired from Bechtel in 1992.

“Chuck” and Alice enjoyed traveling to Europe, working with the Republican Party and cheering on the University of Michigan Wolverines!  Chuck gladly cared for Alice in her final years.  He regularly prayed for his country and service members.  He was a true patriot.  Having worked in the aircraft industry, Chuck had a passion for all things related to aviation and loved “flying” to childhood places using his flight simulator.

Charles was predeceased by his wife Alice, sons Charles III and Robert, grandchildren Angie (William), infant child of Robert and step-great-granddaughter Rosie.

He is survived by his son William, along with his grand and great-grandchildren in Michigan.  Charles is also survived by his stepchildren, Steve (Nan) Habegger of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Jane (Bob) Summers of Berne, Indiana; and Carol (Steve) Counsell of Indianapolis, Indiana; eight step-grandchildren and sixteen step-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse and Christian Care (Bluffton, Indiana) Samaritan Fund.

A memorial service will take place October 19, 2024 at Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel, in Berne, Indiana with visitation at 10:00, followed by a service at 11:00.  Military honors will be provided by The American Legion Post #468 from Berne, Indiana and the United States Marine Corps.

Burial will follow at Washtenong Memorial Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Arrangements by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel of Berne, Indiana