Alva L. Stephens 90th

STEPHENS 90th

Alva L. Stephens celebrated a belated 90th birthday on Sabbath, May 2, at the Falls City (Ore.) Church, with family and friends.

Alva was born on March 27, 1925, in Newberg, Ore., the youngest of nine children. He grew up in the Lincoln City, Ore., area, where he attended the nine-grade church school. After completing the ninth grade, he began working for the timber industry. 

He met Helen Hardin while she was attending Laurelwood Academy in Gaston, Ore., and they were married in 1943. A couple months later, Alva was drafted and shipped to the South Pacific for 19 months. He was honorably discharged in 1945. When he arrived home, there were two beautiful twin girls, along with his wife, to welcome him home. He returned to working for the timber industry, and a son joined the family.

From 1955 to 1959, he worked for Harris Pine in Pendleton, Ore. He drove truck for Worthington Foods from 1960 to 1969. In 1970, he began driving truck for Walsh Trucking of Portland, Ore., and drove for them until he retired at age 65 in 1990. He continued to drive truck for them during the summer until age 85. 

He moved his family to Falls City in 1976. Helen died in April 2003. Later that year, Alva married Barbara Montgomery. They attend the Falls City Church and Alva enjoys stimulating Bible discussions.

Alva’s family includes one surviving daughter, Janet Bunch; 4 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.