Walter K. 'Bus' Stevens
Walter K. “Bus” Stevens, 96, of Main Street, Karns City, passed away peacefully at his home Saturday.
He was born in Argentine, Butler County, on Dec. 1, 1916, the son of Walter Lee and June (Mahood) Stevens.
Bus was a lifelong resident of Karns City. He was a graduate of the Fairview Township Karns City High School Class of 1934. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and honorably served his country in the 77th Infantry Division in the South Pacific in Guam, Okinawa and the Philippines. He received the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for wounds on Okinawa.
Upon returning home, he married Hazel I. Sherwin on May 11, 1950. They were blessed with 56 years of marriage before her passing in August 2006.
Bus worked as a rural mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, Karns City, on the Karns City R.D. 2 route in Butler and Armstrong counties for 30 years before retiring in 1981. He also owned the water company in Karns City for many years, now known as D&D Water Co.
His memberships included the former Ridgeview Golf course, where he had been a member for more than 60 years, and the VFW Post 7876 of Chicora. He also served on the Karns City Borough Council for more than 30 years.
Bus was an avid golfer and golfed well into his 90s. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and working in his backyard garden. Bus was a hard-working, reliable man who could always be counted on to lend a hand. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who will be missed and remembered fondly.
His memory will be carried on by his daughter, Paula Connelly and her husband, Thomas, of Landisville; two grandchildren, Maureen Hill and her husband, Daniel, of Mechanicsburg and Sean Thomas Connelly and his wife, Miranda, of Etters, Pa.; three great-grandchildren; two brothers, Cal Stevens and his wife, Donna, of Karns City and Paul Stevens and his wife, Kay, of Beaver Falls; a sister, Marjorie Bailey of East Brady; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bus was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 56 years, Hazel I. (Sherwin) Stevens; five brothers, Carl, William, John, Robert and Bernard Stevens; and one nephew.
STEVENS — Relatives and friends of Walter K. “Bus” Stevens, who passed away Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, may visit from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 102 Argyle St., Petrolia.Additional visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The Rev. Glenn Kohlhepp, the Rev. Wade Berkey and the Rev. Ali Fisher will co-officiate the services. Full military honors by the VFW Post 7876 and the American Legion Post 642 of Chicora and Post 488 of Bradys Bend will follow funeral services at the funeral home.Burial will be in Bear Creek Cemetery, Fairview Township, Butler County.In honor of Bus, contributions may be made in his memory to the Karns City Quarterback Club, c/o Jim Filges, Secretary, 333 W. Slippery Rock St., Chicora, PA 16025, or to the Karns City Roundball Club, c/o Marta Barger, Treasurer, 205 East Drive, Chicora, PA 16025.To view a video tribute honoring Bus's life or to express an online condolence to his family, please visit www.bauerhillisfuneral.com.
