Orville Dawson Stephens

Orville D. "Bill" Stephens, 92, Mountain View, OK went to be with our Lord on Thursday, September 23, 2010 at his home in Mountain View OK. He was born on October 19, 1917 to Azor H. and Zoe (Gillum) Stephens south of Cowden, OK. Bill graduated from Cowden High School, 1935 and attended Abilene Christian College, Abilene, TX for a year. He married Ruth Joy Godfrey Stephens November 5, 1939 at her parents home north of Mountain View. After forty two years in their farming operation, Bill and Ruth Joy retired for seven years in Salida, CO, where they were very active in church and community activities. They returned to Mountain View in 1989. Bill accepted the Lord at age 11 at Sappington Chapel. He joined the First Baptist Church, Mountain View, 1938 and became a deacon in Alfalfa Baptist Church in 1942. He was active in both churches as well as in Salida, CO. Bill served on the ASCS Board, the HUD board at Binger, OK, Washita Rural Water Board, where he served as president for 8 years, 19 years on the Cowden Gin Board, a director at the First National Bank, Mountain View, the building committee of the Cowden Community building and the Sappington Chapel Cemetery board and the Cotton Board, Lubbock, TX, and the the Elkview General Hospital Board, Hobart, OK. He was on the building committee when the Mountain View Baptist Church building was built in 1959.

Survivors include:
Son: B. R. Stephens and wife Sharon, Mountain View, OK
Daughter: Judith Tipton and husband, Quinton, Sulphur, OK
Son: Randall Stephens and wife, Linda, Mountain View, OK
Six Grandchildren: Tammy and Monty Christenberry, Sedalia, MO
Candi and Joel Sappenfield, Springdale, AR
Mika and Greg Sumpter, Denton, TX
Angie and Chris Skillern, Branson, MO
Will and Lisa Stephens, Mountain View, OK
Staci and Donnie Troglin, Mountain View, OK

Sixteen great-grandchildren: Whitney Samson, Ashley Varlend, Taylor Sappenfield, Levi Christenberry, Stevi Sappenfield, Scotty Sappenfield, Blane Gunter, Chase Wright, Skyla Gunter, Randi Lee Troglin, Rhett Sumpter, Conner Skillern, Luke Sumpter, Lindsey Troglin, Sierra Stephens, Trigger Jene Troglin.
Three great-great-grandchildren: Drennen Samson, Harper and Bayler Cromley
Brother: Jimmie Stephens, Cordell, OK

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Ruth Joy, 2008 and his sister, Hazle Stephens, and a brother, Thomas Melvin Stephens.

Services: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 25, 2010at the First Baptist Church, Mountain View, OK
Rev. Jack Sappenfield and Rev. Brian Waddell
with burial to follow in the Sappington Chapel Cemetery, Cowden, OK.