Charlie Stephens

Charles William “Charlie” Stephens, age 74, passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at Allen County Regional Hospital, Iola, Kansas.

Charlie was one of four children born to Lloyd and Jewel (Shannon) Stephens. He was born on April 18, 1945, in Wynne, Arkansas. He grew up in Dawes, West Virginia and graduated from East Bank High School in 1963. He married Betsy Eagle on June 10, 1966. Their union was blessed with two children, Paula and Paul.

Charlie and Betsy began their married life in Nellis, West Virginia, before moving to Colony, Kansas in 1977. In 1997, they moved to Iola, where Charlie went to work for the City Of Iola at the water plant. Charlie retired as a Water Plant Operator in 2007.

Charlie enjoyed hunting and fishing, but most of all, spending time with his grandkids, taking them on many spur of the moment adventures. He was a dedicated attendee of all of his grandchildren’s activities. Most recently he enjoyed spoiling his three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers-in-law, Earl Sapp and Ira Jordan; sister-in-law, Mary Jane Stephens and nephew, Tommy Ford.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Betsy, of the home; daughter, Paula Decker and husband, Garry, of Welda, Kansas; son, Paul Stephens and wife, Cathy of Colony; four grandchildren, Jenna Pretz and husband, Jon, Luke Decker, Caleb Stephens, Sydney Stephens; three great-grandchildren, Jolee Pretz, Julia Pretz, and James Pretz; two cherished friends who Charlie and Betsy opened their home to, Mike Perkins and wife, Bobbi of Adel, Iowa and Aliene Workman and husband, Steve of Joplin, Missouri; brother, Lloyd Stephens and wife, Sandy of Comfort, West Virginia; two sisters, Wilma Sapp of Peytona, West Virginia, and Phyllis Jordan of Fosterville, West Virginia; three sisters-in-law, Linda Gibson and husband, Ballard of Ormond Beach, Florida, Kathy Thompson of Lewisburg, West Virginia and Emily Ford of Ohley, West Virginia; two brothers-in-law, Johnny Eagle and wife, Macel of Seth, West Virginia, and David Smith and wife, Cortina of Goshen, Indiana.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Colony Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 6:00-8:00 PM on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, in The Venue at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Colony First Responders and may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .