Stephen L. Lovekin Sr.

HICKORY - Stephen Loder Lane Lovekin Sr., 69, died Nov. 10, 2009, at Frye Regional Medical Center after an extended illness. Born Aug. 1, 1940, in Cynwyd, Pa., he was the son of the late Luther and Elizabeth Loder Lovekin. After graduation from the George School, Stephen enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served in the White House Army Signal Agency under Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. He was honorably discharged in June of 1961. He graduated from Catawba College with a bachelor of arts degree in 1964 and received his Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest College in 1967. Stephen came to Catawba County to practice law in 1968, where he has been a partner in several firms. At the time of his death, he was a partner in the firm of Lovekin & Young, P.C. For most of his professional life, he practiced in the fields of personal injury and workers compensation. Stephen was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Hickory. He was a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the Catawba County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. Stephen was a volunteer with the North Carolina State Guard and the United States Service Command, where he served as an instructor and as chief counsel, and retired with the rank of brigadier general. Survivors include his wife, Judith K. Lovekin; his daughter, Beth Ann Peeler; his son, Stephen L. Lovekin Jr.; daughter-in-law, Kristin Lovekin; grandchildren, Sophie Peeler, Lucas Lovekin and Callie Lovekin; sister, Linda Lovekin; stepdaughter, Sherry Stills; stepson, Jeff Klein; stepgrandson, Alex Stills; stepgranddaughter, Lisa Klein; and stepmother, Virginia Lovekin. He was preceded in death by his stepgrandson, Phillip Stills. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Hickory on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at 6 p.m., with the Rev. Deborah McEachran officiating. The family will receive visitors at the church following the service. Memorials may be made to the Emergency Hickory Rescue Squad, 320 Third St. Drive, SW, Hickory, N.C. 28602. Online condolences may be left for the Lovekin family at www.bass-smithfuneralhome.com. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is serving the family of Stephen Loder Lane Lovekin Sr.