Howard R Stevenson Jr

On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, Howard R. Stevenson, Jr. loving husband, father of two children and grandfather of two grandchildren, passed away at the age of 85.

Howard was born on August 15, 1936, in Detroit, MI to Howard and Madelyn Stevenson. He received his degree in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University in 1959 and went on to serve in the US Airforce for 3 years. After his military service he joined General Electric in their Aerospace Division for over 30 years. On July 5, 1958, he married Joy Agnes Thompson, his high school sweetheart. They raised two daughters, Susan and Kathryn.

Howard’s love of engineering was very present in both his work life and his home life. At work, he was known for his problem-solving abilities, his dedication to successfully completing projects and mentoring young engineers. He was awarded two patents during his time with General Electric and was an active member of IEEE  (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and the AOC (Association of Old Crows) for his entire career. After retiring from GE, he banded together with young engineers to form two new companies which are still in operation today.  At 78, he retired to North Carolina.

In his family life, his creative engineering side was also a constant. When his daughters were in grade school, he built a portable Tesla coil to bring to the classroom to teach the students about electrical current.  For Halloween, he built an animatronic 6-foot-tall spider named Igor to entertain trick or treaters. Igor became a fixture on Halloween for over 25 years and also made trips to local Halloween parties for church and non-profit organizations. For the Fourth of July he built a homemade cannon that would shoot empty soda cans. He worked with his daughter Susan, an artist, to build light installations for her art shows. Near the end of his life was building a portable radar to show the students in local schools how radar works.

At the age of 80 he found a new passion, flying. His son-in-law, Craig, taught him to fly in a 1945 Aeronca Champ. Howard spent his summers with Kate and Craig travelling the country attending aviation events and flying whenever he could. When his health declined, he came to live with them in Seattle, WA where he passed away peacefully at home.

Howard’s ashes will be interred in Lakeport Cemetery in Burtchville, MI near his family’s summer home where he loved to swim and sail in his youth.

Howard is survived by this daughters Susan Stevenson Garnett and her husband Donald, and Kathryn MacVeigh and her husband Craig, and his grandchildren Richard Garnett and Madelyn Garnett.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to:

Providence Hospice of Seattle.    Donate online at:   Providence Hospice of Seattle Foundation

National Aeronca Association 
Send donations to:

National Aeronca Association
Attn: Duane Jones
 10563 Milton Carlisle Road
 New Carlisle, OH 45344

 (please note that is a donation on the check)