Theodore "Ted" R. Stephens' Obituary
STEPHENS, Theodore “Ted” R., age 84, of Bellbrook, passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton.
Ted graduated from Friendship High School in Friendship, New York, class of 1958. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War era, where he worked in U.S. intelligence and cryptography. While serving, he earned his bachelor’s degree while attending technical school. Ted’s military service also took him to Alaska, where he developed a lifelong love for the state, its rugged beauty, and the outdoors. While stationed there, he survived the Great Alaskan Earthquake, an experience he would never forget.
Ted later retired from LexisNexis, where he served as a respected manager throughout his career. Intelligent, steady, and capable, he brought quiet confidence and care to his work and to the people around him.
Ted enjoyed flower gardening and especially admired iris flowers. He loved watching birds visit his yard, particularly woodpeckers and bluebirds. He found great enjoyment in biking local trails throughout Corwin and toward Yellow Springs with his bicycle group, often gathering with friends for dinner afterward. Ted also loved camping, the outdoors, and traveling in his RV with his family, including a recent memorable trip to Mackinac Island. He was gifted with his hands, could fix nearly anything, and enjoyed woodworking, including crafting a beautiful gazebo in his backyard. Ted also enjoyed his Jeep and had fun collecting rubber ducks through the years.
Quiet, loving, intelligent, patriotic, and kindhearted, Ted had a wonderful sense of humor and was known for cracking jokes with those around him. Above all else, he was proudest of his family and cherished the time spent together at Sunday dinners, holidays, camping trips, and special moments with his grandchildren.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents, R.O. and Blanche Stephens; his brother, Clarence Stephens; and his two sisters, Marilyn “Molly” Badcock and Joyce Schnell. He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 60 years, Patricia “Pat”; his two daughters, Kelly Stephens and Jennifer (Blaine) Hoffmann; his three grandchildren, Allison Hoffmann, Blaine Theodore Hoffmann, and Ashlyn Manickan; his sister-in-law, Carmen Stephens; his niece, Carol Lynn Graff; and his nephew, Tim Schell.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1 pm on Monday, June 1, 2026, at Conner & Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook. Life Celebrant Brian Bennett will be officiating. Burial will follow at Bellbrook Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11 am until 1 pm on Monday at the funeral home. If desired, contributions may be made to Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. Condolences may be sent to the family at https://www.connerandkoch.com
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