William Albert Stevens, Jr., 96, of Strasburg, Virginia, passed away on March 1, 2021.

Mr. Stevens will be laid to rest with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on June 14, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.

Bill was born in the small town of Lovingston, Virginia, on September 26, 1924, a son of the late William Albert Stevens, Sr. and the late Merrion Frances Willoughby Stevens. A child of the depression, he worked hard when he was young, but enjoyed playing with his cousin and hunting with his three-legged dog, Lucky. Upon graduation from Lovingston High School, Mr. Stevens was drafted into the army during WW2 as an infantry soldier. He stormed Utah Beach two days after the Normandy Invasion and was wounded by machine gun fire shortly afterwards. He spent five months recuperating in a military hospital in England where he received his Purple Heart. Afterward, he returned to the Ninth Division until the end of the war. Although the war was a harrowing experience, Bill said he would willingly do it all over again for his country. Bill married Betty, the love of his life, on June 1, 1949. He was extremely grateful for the GI bill, which allowed him to graduate from Bluefield College, Bluefield, Virginia and from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee. He enjoyed a successful career with the U.S. Public Health Service and a happy marriage of 70 years.  In retirement, Bill and Betty traveled in their RV, walked on the beach, danced often, and loved visiting family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Betty Lou Stevens, of Strasburg, Virginia and two sisters, Margaret Floyd of Lovingston, Virginia and Jeanne Shearer of State College, Pennsylvania.

He is survived by a son, Robert Louis Stevens, and his wife, Laurie, of Buena Vista, Colorado; a daughter, Brenda Stevens Wolters, and husband, Doug, of Cross Junction, Virginia; three grandchildren, Stephanie Crossley, William Albert Stevens, III and wife, Amy and Carrie Schafer and husband, Ben; one great granddaughter, Cora Schafer along with numerous nieces and nephews.

You may sign the guest book and submit condolences to the family online at www.stoverfuneralhome.com

Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Strasburg, VA is serving the family of Mr. Stevens.