1922
Bart
2015
Bart Nelson Stephens
May 29, 1922 — October 5, 2015
Bart Nelson Stephens, a U.S. Foreign Service officer for 34 years and a decorated combat veteran of World War II, died October 10, 2015 in Lynchburg, VA.
Mr. Stephens was born in Norfolk, VA. He was a 1943 graduate of Duke University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and received a Master’s Degree at Harvard University in 1947 in modern European history. During World War II he served in the Navy as a communications officer in the amphibious force in the Pacific Theater, taking part in the landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He earned the Bronze Star (with combat “V”) and Purple Heart medals.
Mr. Stephens joined the Foreign Service in 1949 as a public affairs officer in Thessaloniki, Greece. He later served in other posts in Greece, twice in Germany, in Poland, Vietnam, Austria, and Thailand. From 1963 to 1965 he was cultural attaché in our embassy in Warsaw. His last Washington assignment was as deputy director of the State Department’s Office of International Arts Affairs which sent U.S. performing arts groups abroad. During his last overseas assignment he served as cultural attaché for five years in our embassy in Bangkok and was concurrently vice-chairman of the Thai-U.S. Educational Foundation (the Fulbright program). Mr. Stephens retired in 1982 with the rank of counselor in the Senior Foreign Service with the U.S. Information Agency.
The U.S. Information Agency presented Mr. Stephens with its Meritorious Service Award for his participation in relief and press activities during the 1953 Ionian Island earthquakes in Greece.
After retirement Mr. Stephens lived in McLean, VA before moving to Lynchburg in 1987.
He was a member of the American Foreign Service Association, The Society of the Lees of Virginia, a member of the Board of Directors of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Sweet Briar College Winter Forums Committee.
Survivors include his wife, Barrett Stephens of Lynchburg (Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, class of 1945), and four daughters, Tracey R. Stephens Hall of New York City, Schuyler B. Stephens of Trumansburg, New York, Holly C.S. Tunstall of Fairfax, VA, and Sinah K.L. Stephens of Annadale, VA, and two grandchildren.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
Mr. Stephens was born in Norfolk, VA. He was a 1943 graduate of Duke University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and received a Master’s Degree at Harvard University in 1947 in modern European history. During World War II he served in the Navy as a communications officer in the amphibious force in the Pacific Theater, taking part in the landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He earned the Bronze Star (with combat “V”) and Purple Heart medals.
Mr. Stephens joined the Foreign Service in 1949 as a public affairs officer in Thessaloniki, Greece. He later served in other posts in Greece, twice in Germany, in Poland, Vietnam, Austria, and Thailand. From 1963 to 1965 he was cultural attaché in our embassy in Warsaw. His last Washington assignment was as deputy director of the State Department’s Office of International Arts Affairs which sent U.S. performing arts groups abroad. During his last overseas assignment he served as cultural attaché for five years in our embassy in Bangkok and was concurrently vice-chairman of the Thai-U.S. Educational Foundation (the Fulbright program). Mr. Stephens retired in 1982 with the rank of counselor in the Senior Foreign Service with the U.S. Information Agency.
The U.S. Information Agency presented Mr. Stephens with its Meritorious Service Award for his participation in relief and press activities during the 1953 Ionian Island earthquakes in Greece.
After retirement Mr. Stephens lived in McLean, VA before moving to Lynchburg in 1987.
He was a member of the American Foreign Service Association, The Society of the Lees of Virginia, a member of the Board of Directors of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Sweet Briar College Winter Forums Committee.
Survivors include his wife, Barrett Stephens of Lynchburg (Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, class of 1945), and four daughters, Tracey R. Stephens Hall of New York City, Schuyler B. Stephens of Trumansburg, New York, Holly C.S. Tunstall of Fairfax, VA, and Sinah K.L. Stephens of Annadale, VA, and two grandchildren.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bart Nelson Stephens, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 7
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors