Robert Stephenson: Veteran of the Month | June 2025

Left: Robert Stephenson at his desk in March 2025. Right: Stephenson’s Navy enlisted photo taken when he was 17 years old.
Robert Stephenson was born in Chicago on June 14, 1925, as the third of four children in his family, with two older brothers and a younger sister. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Moline, Illinois. There, his father purchased a house, but they lost it during the Great Depression. The family lived in an apartment in Moline for two years before relocating to Cleveland, Illinois, which had a population of 108 at the time. In Cleveland, his father started building their family home as money and time allowed, which backed up to the Rock River.

Stephenson working as a yeoman, June 27, 1944.
As a child, Robert enjoyed fishing in the river and often spent time hunting and working on old cars, particularly Model A Fords. He remarked, “We had a very enjoyable childhood, and we all did well in school.” Stephenson noted that his father was strict about school attendance, and they never missed a day. He attended a country school and received a quarter a week for arriving early to build a fire in the schoolhouse.
As World War II erupted, Stephenson’s father, Charles, who had served as a submariner during World War I, enlisted in the Navy in January 1942, taking his two oldest sons with him. This left Robert and his sister behind in an unfinished home. To cope with the uncertainty of the situation, the family eventually had to separate: his mother returned to her hometown of Philadelphia, his sister moved in with a cousin, and Robert, still just a teenager, went to live with an aunt who was already raising nine children.
Money was scarce, but Stephenson managed to find part-time work as a dump truck driver. However, he ended up working so many hours that he missed a significant amount of high school. Concerned that he might not graduate, he called his grandparents, who lived in Delta, Iowa, and asked if he could stay with them to finish school. With the help of his grandfather, who served on the school board, Robert enrolled in high school and earned his diploma—an achievement that would pave the way for his service in the Navy.

The Stephensons, from left to right: Richard, Charles (the father), and his sons Robert and Thomas, in 1945.
In 1943, after graduating from high school, Mr. Stephenson traveled to Philadelphia to obtain his mother’s signature, which permitted him to enlist in the Navy at the age of 17. He then went to Sampson, New York, to begin his Navy career. Stephenson recalled, “I spent eight weeks in boot camp learning to be a sailor.”
He was subsequently sent to Norfolk, Virginia, where he was assigned to a squadron known as VD2, part of a photographic unit aboard the newly constructed aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La. In his role as a yeoman, he managed aerial mapping records. In the U.S. Navy, a Yeoman (YN) holds an administrative or clerical position that can be performed both on ships and on land. He also managed personnel records for VD2.
Stephenson departed from Norfolk for a “shakedown cruise.” He explained, “The shakedown cruise was out in the Atlantic to check to see if everything worked ok. We came back to Norfolk and loaded ammunition, airplanes, and supplies, and started for the Panama Canal.” The ship was en route to the Pacific, but due to the Sole Survivor Policy limiting the number of immediate family members allowed in danger zones, he was transferred to the USS Franklin, which was returning from battle in the Pacific. Stephenson stated, “It [the USS Franklin] had gotten beaten up by the Japanese.” He wasn’t happy about being transferred and having to leave his friends behind, but this regulation was implemented after the tragic loss of the five Sullivan Brothers, who had been killed in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal while all serving on the same ship. Stephenson had no idea why he was being transferred until he approached one of the ship’s officers, who informed him of the reason.

Newspaper article from the Germantown Courier about the Stephensons, Dec 6, 1945.
The Stephenson brothers and their father were spread out across the Pacific. Stephenson explained, “My oldest brother, Thomas, was a chief pharmacist mate. My second brother, Dick or Richard, was a first-class radio man, and my father was a chief electrician in the Seabees. He built airfields down on the islands in the South Pacific.” All were exposed to Japanese attacks.
He elaborated on his brothers’ roles, stating, “My oldest brother was a pharmacist mate, where he took care of the wounded sailors. And my brother Dick was on a PC ship, and he did convoy duty.” He then gave the details of his position, saying, “I took care of the records on the ship. I also took care of the records of the VD Squadron 2, which was a photographic squadron, and we prepared aerial maps of the Pacific Islands.”
When asked if he enjoyed his job aboard the ship, he laughed and replied, “Well, I can’t say I enjoyed it, but I put up with it. It didn’t bother me at all. It was kind of a soft job.” Stephenson credits his high school typing class for helping him secure the position.
After his time serving on the USS Franklin, Stephenson was stationed in Boston for the remainder of his service in the Navy. His recordkeeping work played a vital role in supporting mission planning and operations.

The Stephensons on their wedding day.
After completing his three-year Navy contract in 1946, Mr. Stephenson was honorably discharged and briefly returned to Illinois before moving to Philadelphia. There, he joined his brothers in a construction business. Eager to continue his education, he attended night classes at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he took accounting courses, ultimately earning the equivalent of a two-year degree.
After college, Stephenson initially worked as a record keeper before starting his own business. By 1950, he had established an office equipment company. After a time, he closed the doors to his store and auctioned off all of the supplies. He was astonished to discover just how much money the auction generated.
In 1964, he founded RL Stephenson Incorporated, and under his leadership, the company experienced significant growth and success. At one point, he managed two locations and traveled across the country to conduct auctions. Today, he continues to work and jokes, saying, “I only work five days a week.” His family is actively involved in the business, and his son now oversees the cleanout aspect of operations. Stephenson said, “I enjoy this work, I know how to do it, and I have a family that supports me.”
His proudest partnership, however, was not in business but in life. Stephenson was married to his beloved wife Helene for 75 years until her passing in 2022. Together, they raised three children: two sons and a daughter. He is now the proud patriarch of a large family, including five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Stephenson auctioneering on December 20, 2024.
Stephenson achieved numerous professional accomplishments and also made significant personal achievements. Shortly after getting married, he purchased a lot and began constructing his own home, a project that took three years to complete. The house is a two-story, three-bedroom, two-bath residence. He credits his father with teaching him valuable life lessons that enabled him to finish the home where he and his family lived for 30 years. His father, an electrician by trade, worked night shifts and would come over to help with the electrical work. Stephenson recalled, “He lost a lot of sleep coming to help me, and I will be forever grateful for all he did.”
Later, Stephenson acquired a 30-acre property with a large stone home and lived there with his family for over 25 years. He eventually sold it to a developer. He has always aimed to live close to the family business, and to this day, he still resides nearby. He enjoys fishing, particularly deep-sea fishing in the Florida Keys, where he and his family own a home. However, he admits that after about a week, he is ready to return home to work.
Stephenson proudly shared that he still drives and takes care of his three-acre yard while also working in the office five days a week, sometimes even six days a week. He exclaimed, “I stay busy, but that’s probably why I have lasted for a hundred years!”
As he reflects on his life, Stephenson describes it simply and sincerely as “very good.” He attributes his longevity to his upbringing and the strong values instilled in him by his parents. When asked about his experiences in the Navy, he highlights the importance of honesty, hard work, and treating people well—principles that have guided him throughout every chapter of his life. Stephenson sums up his life lessons by stating, “You always gotta be honest and treat people fairly.”
On June 14, 2025, Mr. Stephenson will celebrate his 100th birthday surrounded by loved ones at a celebration organized by his children. It is an honor to recognize him not only for his service to our country but for the legacy of dedication, resilience, and humility that defines his century-long journey.

Certificate for supporting The National WWII Museum in honor of his father and two brothers, dated May 31, 2024.
Veterans Care Coordination is proud to recognize Robert Stephenson for his service to our country. We are privileged to have the opportunity to share the stories of our nation’s heroes. Thank you for your service, Robert, and Happy 100th Birthday.