Edwin E. Stevens

Edwin Earl Stevens, 93, of Avon, IL passed away Wednesday August 30, 2017, at his home.  He was born Monday February 4, 1924 in St. Louis, MO.  The only child of Henry and Elsie M. (Ellsworth) Stevens.  He married Jane (Mitchell) Laule on February 6, 1983.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Jane of Avon, IL; three children: Randolph Stevens of St. Louis, MO, Michael Stevens of Silverdale, WA, and Allison Johnson of San Jose, CA; 8 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, 1 son (Todd Stevens), and 1 grandson.

Edwin attended Harrison Grade School and Beaumont High School in St. Louis, MO.  His young days were spent managing Khoury League Baseball for 9 years in North St. Louis County.  At seventeen, his first position was billing clerk at Hayes Freight Lines.  He was drafted February 11, 1943, and entered in at Jefferson Barricks, MO. From there transferred into Military Police in Marietta, PA.  During his stay there he escorted German Prisoners to Camp Ellis, IL.  While in the Army he played Taps for several deceased soldiers, his experience coming from playing bugle in American Legion Drum and Bugle Corp at age 12 in St. Louis.  Late in 1944 he was sent to New Guinea.  It took 17 days to go from San Francisco to New Guinea on a Kaiser Liberty ship.  After a short period in New Guinea, he was sent to Luzon in the Philippines.  From previous medical training, he was assigned to the 128th Infantry Company 32nd Infantry Division.  His next eight months was spent in the mountains called the Villa Verde Trail.  While attending another wounded soldier he was shot by a sniper in the left arm and wounded, because it took so long to heal bones he was sent back to San Francisco to heal.  He was later discharged and received the Purple Heart.  His future position as billing and rate clerk were at National Carloading, where he worked for approximately 15 years.  Then moved to Acme fast Freight as a piece work biller.  His next position was Western Gillette as a salesman, and then moved to IML Freight, Inc. for five years as a salesman.  His next and last position was at Bowman Transportation as Terminal Manager/Salesman.  He retired from Bowman in 1987 and moved to Avon, IL.  Ed enjoyed his trip a year ago to Washington D.C. on the Honor Flight.

Memorial service will be Saturday September 2, 2017, 1:00 p.m. at the Avon Federated Church Avon, IL where Pastor Jon Prain will be officiating.  Visitation will be from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at the Avon Federated Church.  Cremation rites have been accorded burial will be in the Avon Cemetery with Military Honors.  Memorials may be made to the Avon Federated Church.