Richard H. Stevens

1928 - 2023

Richard Hoover Stevens, of Manatee County, Sarasota, Fla., passed away peacefully after a brief illness Monday, July 31, 2023, at the age of 94. Richard was born Nov. 6, 1928, in Niagara Falls, N.Y., the son of Earl and Ruth Stevens. He was a long-time resident with his late wife, Beverly G. Stevens, whom he was married to for 36 years, both of Highland Lakes Retirement Community, in Leesburg, Fla., and a former resident of New Kensington and Parma Heights, Ohio. After his high school graduation, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and proudly served five years as a proof technician small arms. He earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars for participation in the First United Nations Counter Offensive Communist China Spring Offensive, United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive and the Second Korean Winter, and additional awards for good conduct and the Victory Medal World War II and the United Nations Service Medal. He was honorably discharged in December 1951. He then obtained a Bachelor of Science degree at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy and was employed by Alcoa as a metallurgical engineer for more than 30 years, both in Alcoa Tennessee and Upper Burrell. Upon retirement, he enjoyed traveling around the world, photography and planning trips for the residents of Highland Lakes Retirement Community, an active bowler, participated in Bridge Club and was Director of International Metallurgic Society and American Society for Metals. Survivors include his daughter, Kim (Denny) Zeiss; and son-in-law, David (Janet) Powell; and eight grandchildren, Jered Widmer, Aaron Widmer, Sarah Elise, Kristina Grimm, Brad (Andrea) Gonso, Heidi (Matt) Carey, Brian (Dorene) Powell and Steven Powell. He was blessed with 11 great-grandchildren. A private ceremony celebrating the life of Richard Hoover Stevens will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla.