R. A. ”Steve” Stevenson, Jr., M.D., 90, of Victoria died Thursday, April 26, 2012, in San Antonio . Steve, as he was known to family and friends, was born August 12, 1921 in Bee County Texas, to the late Rufus Alfred Stevenson, Sr., and Mary Lenora Ballard. He was preceded in death by his brother, the Hon. Clarence Neal Stevenson, and his sister, Katie Lee Lunn. He was a Catholic and an original member of Our Lady of Victory Cathedral.
Steve graduated from Port Lavaca High School in 1939 and received his B.A. (1942) and his M.D. (1945) from the University of Texas . In 1945 he married his beloved wife, the late Alice E. “Betty” Elder of Port Lavaca. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1948 as an officer in the Medical Corps in the Panama Canal Zone, the Philippines , Okinawa , and the Southern Ryuku Islands. After his discharge, he attended New York University (1948 to 1950) and completed graduate study in the field of Dermatology. He received his Diplomate from the American Board of Dermatology in 1952. After previously working in Galveston and Temple , in 1954 he moved to Victoria , where he opened the first specialist Dermatology practice in the area. He retired from full-time medical practice in 1987.
Dr. Stevenson was an active member of the local medical community, as a member and past president (two terms) of the Victoria-Calhoun-Goliad County Medical Society; a member of the Texas and American Medical Associations, and chairman of the TMA Political Action Committee; a member and past president of the Texas Dermatology Society; and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology. He was a member and former Associate Chief of Staff of Citizens Memorial Hospital in Victoria .
Steve was a devout Catholic and an active participant in many church-related organizations. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory parish and served for many years on the parish Lay Advisory Board. He was also chairman of Our Lady of Victory School Fund Drive, a member for several years of the St Joseph School Board, and past president of the School Board of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a former Faithful Navigator for Assembly 1329 and a Past Master of Texas District No. 2, for the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He was a charter member and past president of the Catholic Physicians Guild of San Antonio. He was a member, past president and chairman of the Founding Committee of the Serra Club of Victoria. He served terms as Secretary of Serra International, as Area Trustee of Serra International ( Texas and Oklahoma ), and as District Governor of Serra International District No. 44. Dr Stevenson was knighted by Pope Paul VI, as a Knight of St Gregory (1973), and was subsequently knighted by Pope John Paul II as Knight Commander of St Gregory (1979) and as Knight of the Grand Cross of St Gregory (1990). He was past president of the Knights of St Gregory, Archdiocese of San Antonio. He was also a devoted member of the Associates of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament order in Victoria .
Steve was a loving husband and father, known to his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren as “Paw-Paw”. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Betty. He is survived by his children: Charles (Aideen) Stevenson of Cairns, Queensland, Australia, Robert (Susan) Stevenson, M.D., of Kerrville , Mary (Michael) Gallagher of Atlanta, Ga., Ann Trost of San Antonio, John (Marian) Stevenson of Victoria, Kay (Henry) Herndon of Spicewood, Molly Daniels of San Antonio, and Peter (Sandie) Stevenson of Denver, Co., as well as chosen son, Charlie Van Metre of Houston.
He also is survived by his seventeen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren: Kelly (Kyle) Flessner and children, Avery and Erin, of Lucas; Robb (Courtney) Stevenson of Austin; Kim (Donald) Nodora and children, Angelina and Kai; of Hayward, Ca.; Brian (Jess) Gallagher of Watertown, Ma.; Amy (Craig) Hough and children, Gabriel, Jonah, and Shane, of Bastrop; Steven Gallagher of Atlanta, Ga.; Jennifer (Trent) Oswalt and children, Taylor, Mackenzie, and Connor, of Universal City; Joel (Melissa) Trost and children, Rylan and Cason, of Seguin; Lauren (Eric) Engebretson and children, Elizabeth and Emma, of Tomball; Chris (Audra) Stevenson and son, Sage, of Houston; Matt (Morningstar) Stevenson and children, Josephine and Elliott, of Ann Arbor, Mi.; Jacob Stevenson of Austin; Henry Herndon IV, of Spicewood; Randy (Jacy) Daniels and daughter, Adalynn, of Denver, Co.; Callie Daniels of San Antonio; Sara Stevenson of Denver, Co.; and Patrick Stevenson of Denver , Co. He is also survived by his two chosen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren: Kylie (Dylan) Hrncir and children, Pam, Seth, Toby, and Blaise, of Warsaw , Poland ; and Amanda (Jacob) Perkins and children, Caleb and Ashlynn, of Houston .
Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by a rosary at 7:00 p.m. Monday, April 30, at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral in Victoria . Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, with The Most Reverend David E. Fellhauer and Monsignor Michael Harrold officiating. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery .
Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons: Robb Stevenson, Brian Gallagher, Steven Gallagher, Chris Stevenson, Matt Stevenson, Jacob Stevenson, Joel Trost, Henry Clay Herndon IV, Randy Daniels, and Patrick Stevenson.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament or to St Joseph’s High School.
Words of comfort may be shared with the Family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.
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