STEPHENS

Virginia Lee Stephens, a former longtime resident of Lutcher, died April 15, 2016 in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 97. She was preceded in death by her husband William E. Stephens in 1998 and a son, Michael Stephens, in 2010. She is survived by a son,  Mark Stephens of Fort Myers, and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. A memorial service and burial will be in Parkersburg, WV, at a date to be  determined. Virginia was born in Parkersburg, was graduated from Parkersburg High School and attended Mountain State Business College. She was the daughter of Carrie Talbott Hyre and  Virgil Vaught Hyre and sister of Josephine Hyre Davis, all deceased. Virginia met her husband in Parkersburg and they married in 1943 at Maxwell Field Army Air Force base in Alabama. After her husband returned from service in Europe he joined the DuPont company. As he served DuPont in Parkersburg, Wilmington, Del.; Orange, Tex.; and Reserve, La., Virginia raised her sons and devoted herself to community service and the Methodist Church. After Bill Stephens retired in 1974, the couple remained in Lutcher among the Cajun people they admired. Two years after Bill died, Virginia moved to Fort Myers to be near her son, Mark.