Fred Stevenson, 87, died Sept. 19 at HomePlace in Oak Harbor with his family at his side. He was born Nov. 15, 1918 in Oleny, Texas to Minnie Bell and Fred Marshall Stevenson.

Fred grew up in Texas and attended Texas Tech, studying engineering for three years prior to joining the U.S. Army-Air Corps, where he flew B-29s during WWII.

He met Virginia Sims at a USO Dance at Lowry Field in February of 1942. After dancing with him for one song, she said, “Hey, you’re a good dancer, why don’t you ask one of my friends to dance?”

Fred replied, “If I’d have wanted to dance with them, I would have asked them.”

They were married in Salina, Kansas on August 7, 1943.

Fred and Virginia welcomed daughter Linda to the family in 1946, and another daughter, Ginger in 1948. They lived in Denver; Orange, Calif.; Canyon Lake, Texas and Oak Harbor.

He enjoyed fixing cars, listening to Big Band music, photography, crossword puzzles, square dancing and golf.

Fred is survived by his wife, Virginia Stevenson of Oak Harbor; his daughter Linda Gale with husband Mark of Coupeville; his brother Ben Stevenson with wife Dottie of Montgomery, Texas; two grandchildren, Chad and Megan; and three great-grandchildren, Corbyn, Quincy and Joey Coleman. His daughter Ginger Stevenson preceded him in death.

He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.

A service for Fred will be held Monday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. at Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor. Remembrances can be made to HomePlace Care Facility in Oak Harbor.