Resident of Tampa since 1956. Husband of the late Lorraine Lundgren Stevens, the light of his life. He leaves two families: Florida family of Diana Stevens and Husband Grant Wilson, grandchildren Ryan Salzgeber and Virginia Bagley and his Texas family of Jack Stevens and Wife Janet, grandchildren John Stevens and Jackie Gibbons and great grand children Scarlett, Jack, and Adeline Stevens and Kyra and Quinn Gibbons.
During WW2, he was a Combat Glider Pilot. During the invasion of southern France in 1944, he was wounded and retired as a Flight Officer in 1947 from USAAF (USAF). He spent 3 years receiving the best of care for his wounds in various military hospitals as they ‘put him back together’. He received the Air Medal and Purple Heart. The family of four then moved to Minnesota and enjoyed 9 years with the love and companionship of his wife’s family. He served as the Wing Commander of the Air Force Association of Minnesota in 1955 and received their Medal of Merit. They moved to Tampa, Florida in 1956 for the warmth and MacDill AFB services. He served one term as the President of the 51st Troop Carrier Wing of the Glider Pilot Association. He was awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour by French Brigadier General Thierry Ducret, French Representative to the U.S. Central Command International coalition on September 15, 2016 at a ceremony in Ybor City at the Bad Monkey military bar.
Thanks to the Air Force, Leonard and Lorraine traveled Space-A to many parts of the world. From 1960 to 1990 they traveled to 34 countries, living in small hotels, bed and breakfasts with the people of the countries and avoiding the tourist hotels. The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Chinese New Year in Bangkok, roaming the ruins of Greece and Rome and the Jump Up in Antigua were some of their favorite memories. The many adventures they had with the people they met and friends they made resulted in the wonderful stories they told. It was a great life with no regrets.Leonard likes to tell the story of the Glider Pilot. “Combat Glider Pilots are a breed of there own. There have never been any before WW2 and there will probably never be any again. They are a hybrid breed like a jackass with no need to reproduce themselves. They are definitely one of a kind, understood by themselves but by most people, completely beyond understanding.”
“In a few more years military glider pilots will become extinct as a species, remembered that they existed and were involved in exciting and important military actions around the world in WW2”
He wanted to warn everyone about being careful of unscrupulous people who prey and take advantage of the elderly.
We will join you at the Service for your Dad on Friday, January 25th. Judy & Ralph
What a fascinating father you had Jack. I really enjoyed reading his obituary. He had a wonderful life and his service to our country and the way served was very important as well as interesting. I thought about you and Janet several times during the week. My thoughts and prayers have been with you this week.
I received word of Mr Stevens passing tonight and my heart is heavy.
Having had the pleasure to do a little work in his home and listen and share in stories. Im honor to have share a wee amount of time with a true man of the high character. Semper Fidelis.
God Bless a true hero in Leonard Stevens. WE did not know each other very well, but he attended our Bayside Community Church on Bayshore Blvd. and we would chat now and then. I am and 87 year old military history buff and relived D-Day in a visit to Normandy, France in 2000. I was fascinated with the daring and dangerous Glider pilots. Leonard is now “flying” with Jesus and having the time of his new, eternal, life. God Bless Leonard and all his family. Bob Cromwell, Tampa, Florida
What an extraordinary gentleman! My husband and I have missed him at Church and am sad to know that I will have to wait for Heaven to see him again. However, he is reunited with his lovely Lorraine in the presence of the Lord and I pray that this knowledge will be a comfort to his grieving family who he loved so much and spoke of often with great pride. You will all be in our thought and prayers.
I ran into this man at McDonalds in South Tampa exactly one year ago today and posted about the encounter on my Facebook page. We had an interesting talk. Very alert for his age and he seemed to have lived a full life.
I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Mr. Stevens 3 years ago when I taught a class on the WWII glider base which had been in our local area. We had a delightful afternoon and the taped interview of his glider experiences was incredibly insightful for my students. Mr. Stevens also spoke lovingly and fondly of his dear Lorraine, telling us the entire story of how they met and married. We took him out to lunch and were glad that so many people noticed his glider cap and stopped to ask him about it. He told us that he seldom had to pay for a meal as people noticed the cap and purchased food for him. My husband kept up with him for some time, calling on weekends. Mr. Stevens did not remember us from week to week, but that didn’t matter as he was always so good-natured and happy to have a call. I will remember him fondly. How lucky I was get to know him!
My husband and I met Steve a few years back during one of his trips to the Village Inn Pancake House with Vonnie. Steve had on his glider hat, and seeing that my husband made a beeline to Steve’s table where he was enthralled in conversation for what seemed like hours. The two of them emailed quite a bit over time. We continued to connect over pancakes and would also visit at the Wendy’s on Gandy. Steve shared so many wonderful stories, both verbal and written. Such an interesting and delightful man. As lives go, we lost touch and so it was with much sadness that we just learned of his death yesterday. God’s blessings on his soul. G.E. and Bebe Jones
My condolences to the Stevens family. I’m a multi-published author, now working on a book about WWII glider pilots and had hoped to learn more about Mr. Stevens’ service to America. Perhaps a family member might contact me (author@scottmcgaugh.com). Thank you.
I want to express my deepest sympathy to Steve’s family. I met Steve when he and I worked in the TV shop at the Tampa Montgomery Ward store on Dale Mabry in 1965. I learned a lot from him, not the least of which is that there were such things as combat gliders. I have no idea why he came to mind today or why I chose to google him thus finding this obituary. I feel blessed to have known him and wish you all the very best.
I met Mr. Stevens for the first time at my father’s retirement ceremony when I was a young teenager. After the ceremony concluded he gave me a framed painting of a glider with information about his time serving in WW2 on the back and some contact information. This was several years ago and to my great sadness, I never did see him again. A few weeks ago it came to my mind that I never had emailed him and I looked to see if the information I had for him was still accurate. While looking to verify his contact information I stumbled upon this page, and it is one of my greatest regrets I waited so long to try to reach out to him. I still have that painting on my bookshelf and I look at it every day. God bless and a long-delayed thank you to Mr. Stevens for something that so profoundly changed me.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Stevens at Home Depot. He gave me his card and we communicated via email and phone for a few years. I would take him for ice cream with my wife Nicole and also my grandson Deklan when he was in town. We loved his stories regarding being a pilot who flew a plane with no engine – it led him to meeting the Pope and explaining how a plane could fly with no engine. He was a proud American and loved his country – always flying Old Glory with a light on it at night. He is in a better place though he will be dearly missed, our thoughts and prayers to his friends and family. RIP Jim & Nicole Parker & Deklan
We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Stevens at The Village Inn in Tampa. He was wearing his hat and my husband thanked him for his service. From there a wonderful conversation with him was born. We so enjoyed hearing about his life in the service. We were honored when he handed us his card. We came home to Ohio and told his story to our friends. We are so sorry for your loss of this great American.
Today as I often do I think of my dearly departed friend Steve . As I look out my window I see that in the place of Steve and Laurie’s old house has arisen a new structure. However the physical memories of the best neighbours I’ve ever had and some of the dearest friends do not remain. I will always treasure the friendship and bond that we shared. They will always live on in my heart.
I happened to meet Mr Stevens sometime in in 2016 at the thrift store in Dale Mabry not far from MacDill. I caught his glider pilot hat so we talked for at least 30 minutes. What a wonderful conversation we had. In the end he gave me his business card and I had always meant to get in contact and take him up on his invitation to stop by and chat.
After we moved to a new house here I found his business card. I was very sad to see he had passed while I was overseas. What an amazing man and I am sure he is missed by all.