Walter Ray Stephens, Jr. of Keokuk, died Sunday, March 12, 2017 at the Keokuk Area Hospital. He was 94 years old. He was born October 17, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Walter Ray Sr. and Irene Graves Stephens. On October 13, 1944, he was united in marriage to Lenore Palmer in Cleveland, Ohio. She preceded him in death in 1993. Their marriage of 49 years was filled with tenderness, love, and devotion. Upon graduation in 1940 from East Technical High School in Cleveland, Ohio, he furthered his education by going to Fenn College, which is now Cleveland State University, and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. He was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps and proudly served his country as a Master Sergeant specializing in aircraft communications during WWII, in Kauai, Okinawa and the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Walter was employed by General Electric as an electrical engineer at the Nela Park lighting division in Cleveland, Ohio for thirty-eight years until his retirement in 1987. After his retirement he was an active volunteer with the Kirtlandia Society of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. After Lenore's death, he developed a friendship with Betsy Hallaran, who worked at the museum. They enjoyed many years of travel and companionship. Upon Betsy's death in 2009, he moved to Keokuk, Iowa, to be close to his son, Walter Stephens, III. He enjoyed being a member of the Keokuk Yacht Club. Walter made daily trips to Rand Park where he would sit on a bench for hours and watch the Mississippi River and its birdlife. He was a kind, soft-spoken and gentle soul. Walter was very inquisitive by nature. He was fascinated by the architecture of homes and had a hobby of constructing miniature homes. Walter enjoyed photography, especially of birds and flowers, and was an avid reader of books about history and biographies. He loved to take trips and had traveled all over the world. He is survived by his son, Walter R. Stephens, III (Kathy Asbury) of Keokuk, and daughter, Carole Barton (Richard) of Loveland, Colorado, four grandchildren, Adam Stephens (Kim), Sean Barton, Jason Stephens (Julie) and Shannon Kleinbach (Jesse), seven great-grandchildren, Riley Johnson, Quinn Stephens, Nolan Stephens, George Stephens, Henry Stephens, Marin Kleinbach and Jackson Kleinbach, one nephew, Earl McClintock and one niece, Joy Burgess. He is also survived by his loving sister-in-law, Alice Chojnacki and her five children, eight grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Lenore, his friend Betsy, and his sister, Irene McClintock. In honor of his wishes there will be no services. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Keokuk Area Hospital Foundation or the donor's choice