Robert Stephens

Family-Placed Death Notice

STEPHENS, Robert Major General Robert B. Stephens Major General Robert B. Stephens passed away peacefully with his wife's head on his chest at 0550 hours, 8Mar, 2011. General Stephens was born in Goldsboro, NC. He graduated from Griffin High School in Griffin, GA in 1963, and proceeded with his attendance at the University of Georgia where he received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Marketing in 1967. He also graduated from Squadron Officer School in 1974, Air Command and Staff College and Air War College in 1979. After receiving his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program, General Stephens entered Undergraduate Pilot Training at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and received his pilot wings in January 1969. He then attended C-141 crew training at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, prior to assignment in the 58th Military Airlift Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. In May 1971, The General was assigned to QU-22 crew training at Duke Field, Florida. Following training, he was assigned to the 554th Reconnaissance Squadron, Nakon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he served as a QU-22B Wing Standardization Pilot. In September 1973, General Stephens was assigned to the 701st Military Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he was a C-141 Aircraft Commander. In September 1988, General Ste-phens was selected as the vice commander, then later the Commander of the 315th Military Airlift wing, Charleston Air force Base, South Carolina. In July 1991, the General was assigned as Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, US Recruiting Service, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and then to the Vice Commander, US Air Force Reserve, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, in February 1993. In June 1993, General Stephens was assigned to McClellan Air Force Base as the Vice Commander, 4th Air Force. The General was then assigned as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Tanker Airlift Control Center, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, in September 1994 and then to the Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlbert Field, Florida, in July 1996. General Stephens was then assigned to Centcom, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, in October 1999, where he served under General Tommy Franks. The General was a command pilot with more than 6,500 military flying hours, including more than 350 combat hours, and over 15,000 civilian hours. General Stephens, as civilian duty, either flew or operated in a management position for Eastern Air Lines, Kalitta Flying Services, Atlas Air, Polar Air Cargo, Kitty Hawk Air Cargo, Spirit Air Lines, and Delta Global Services. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two service stars, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars, Humanitarian Service Medal with three service stars, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. He was also selected as the Air Force Association Air Crew of the Year. General Stephens is survived by his loving wife and partner of 50 years, Cathleen Prothro Hill Stephens, daughter, Mary Ella Stephens, son, Robert B. Stephens, Jr., Danielle Cathleen Krukowski, granddaughter, John C. Stephens, brother and his wife Nan, Nephews, Philip Bates, Stephen Bates, James Stephens, niece, Rebecca Stephens, brother in law Latham Hill, and close friends Tom Oglesby and Derek Duke. General Stephens will have a Memorial Service held in his honor at Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston, SC, on the morning of April 16th. Directions and event information can be requested through e-mail inquiries to robstephens1@ gmail.com. General Stephens requested that no flowers be sent, but rather interested parties support the War Fighter effort through the Wounded Warrior Project, www. woundedwarriorproject.org, in his honor.