James Allen Stephens Sr

James A. Stephens, 69, of Antelope, CA, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family in Roseville, CA, on March 19, 2025.

He was born in Sacramento County in 1955 to Robert Eldon Stephens and Anna Mae Stephens (née Faux). James attended grade school in Elverta and Rio Linda, CA, and enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 19. During his military career, he traveled the world—some of the places he was stationed included Maryland, Texas, Oregon, California, Germany, and Korea, just to name a few. He proudly retired after 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. Among his many achievements were distinctions in sharpshooting and expert marksmanship, as well as several awards recognizing his overseas deployments and National Defense Service.

After his military service, James worked nearly 30 years in the transportation industry as a shop foreman and manager with Dependable Highway Express, holding positions throughout the Sacramento and Bay Area. He was deeply committed to creating reliable equipment for drivers and took great pride in keeping roads safer for everyone. James believed in hard work, valued loyalty, and genuinely cared for his team—he wasn’t just a boss, he was a mentor and a friend.

When he wasn’t working, James cherished time with his family. He had a particular fondness for visiting wineries, trying out new restaurants, and trying his luck at casinos. He was immensely proud of his children and their accomplishments—and wasn’t shy about telling the world. He adored his four grandchildren, often saying that a little ruckus was what made a house feel like home.

James was preceded in death by Robert Stephens, Anna Mae Stephens, Joseph Stephens, David Stephens, and Roberta Mae (Stephens) Wickham. He is survived by Forrest Stephens, Helen Stephens, Antonietta Stephens, Pauline Luis, Mary Crockett, James Stephens Jr., and his four beautiful grandchildren.

Funeral services with full U.S. military honors will be held on April 9, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA.