Rodney A. Stevens

Rodney A. Stevens BROCKTON Rodney Ashley Stevens, Master Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy, died Nov. 16, 2008, in Peoria, Ariz. Born in Brockton, he was the husband of the late Elinore Whitcomb Stevens. Master Chief Stevens attended local schools and entered Brockton High in the class of 1943. He left BHS to enlist in the U.S. Navy in November 1941 prior to World War II and served in combat in the Pacific Area from Guadalcanal in 1942 through Okinawa in 1945, surviving several aerial bombings, kamikaze boat and plane attacks on the USS Carina AK74. He re enlisted after World War II and made a career of the Navy serving in combat ships, tenders and various shore duties for 21 years until retiring in 1962. He retired with the highest senior enlisted grade obtainable, Master Chief Petty Officer. Master Chief Stevens was promoted from Chief Petty Officer to MCPO in November 1958 while serving in Tokyo, Japan, as the result of the competitive fleet examinations and was the one CPO in his professional field to become the first MCPO out of approximately 45,000 CPOs. Mr. Stevens was later selected for promotion to commissioned status on Ensign, Supply Corps, USN in 1959, but declined the promotion in order to retire early and commence a second career. After he retired from the USN as CO USNRESTA, Allentown, Pa. Mr. Stevens worked for a large insurance company and subsequently was employed by the Brockton Saving Bank, as manager of the Savings Bank Life Insurance Department. He retired in December 1987 as vice president after over 19 years with the Bank. After he retired, he traveled frequently overseas and in U.S. He was an active member of the Brockton Rotary Club for 25 years, serving as treasurer of the club for three years and chairman of the Rotary District Golf group for two years. He lived in Halifax for 25 years and Peoria, Ariz. for three years. He was an avid golfer and member of the Halifax Country Club, past member of the MacDill Air Force Golf Course in Tampa, Fla. and member of the Seniors Group of Luke Air Force Golf Course in Phoenix, Ariz. He left many friends at Westbrook Village Golf Club in Peoria, Ariz. and in Massachusetts. Mr. Stevens is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Douglas W. and Edith B. Stevens of Dedham and a daughter and son-in-law, Robin G. and Dennis L. Smith of Glendale, Ariz.; a grandchild, Christopher L. Smith of Glendale; and a sister, Evelyn L. MacConnell of Riverside, Calif. He was also the brother of the late Bernard F. Stevens, Ethel M. Mowatt and Ruth A. Welch. A military graveside service will be held Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Visitation will take place Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, from 4-8 p.m. in the Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home, 647 Main St., Brockton. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family, please visit www.d-mfh.com.