Robert Lee Stephens

Robert Lee Stephens, 83, of Gainesville, Florida, died on January 1, 2024.

Mr. Stephens was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas, on March 10, 1940, to Roy Edward Stephens and Rose Lucille Orr Stephens, and grew up in Ruston.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1978, retiring as a sergeant first class. He was in the Signal Corps and served twice in Vietnam.

His many awards included the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster.

After leaving the army, Mr. Stephens graduated magna cum laude from the University of Florida. He later worked for the U.S. Post Office, retiring in 2006.

Mr. Stephens is survived by his wife of 52 years, Martha Underwood Stephens of Gainesville; a son, Michael Stephens of Gainesville; a daughter, Janet Stephens Sink of Quincy, Florida; son-inlaw, Alex Sink; granddaughter, Audrey Sink; grandson, Grady Sink; a sister, Betty Terrill of Houston, Texas; and several nephews and nieces.

A service will be held at the Milam Funeral Home in Gainesville on February 10, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Retirement Home for Horses, P. O. Box 2100, Alachua, FL 32616. www. millcreekfarm. org/contributions/donations.

Donors may if they wish choose to co-sponsor one of several retired U.S. Army horses living at the farm.