Arlen Stevens

Arlen Lee Stevens was born in Huntington,
West Virginia on July 19, 1932 to the union of the
late Roy and Gladys (Dolby) Stevens.
He attended Cabell County Public Schools,
Barnett Elementary and Douglass High School
where he played football and basketball. During
this time, he met his best friend, Arnett Brogdon
and they remained friends throughout his life.
As a child, he could often be seen with his
father and younger brother, Lionel, doing odd
jobs in the neighborhood. In 1953, he was drafted
into the United States Army where he served in
the 51st Signal Corps, stationed in Uyongbu,
Korea and subsequently in Japan. He attained the
rank of Sergeant and was honorably discharged in
1955.
Arlen was a Medical Research Technician at the
University of Cincinnati and Children?s Hospital.
He was very proud of his work with Dr. Albert
Sabin in the development of the oral polio vaccine.
He was a member of the Greater Cincinnati
Chapter Tuskegee Airman, Inc. Arlen was an avid
thoroughbred horse enthusiast and he and his
friends could be found most Saturdays at the
track.
He became a father to several young men
whose own fathers were deceased. They often
called him for advice or just to chat.
He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized.
He became a member of New Life Missionary Baptist Church on October 5, 2008.
He was the father to four children from a
previous marriage: Denise, Arlen Jr., Lisa and
Mark. In 1964, he met and later married Lorraine
Bennett. They were married for 47 years.
Arlen was preceded in death by four brothers,
Lionel, Harold, Kenneth and Verlin; and three
sisters, Elma, Louise and Lucille.
He leaves to cherish his memory: a loving wife,
Lorraine; a brother, Lawrence Stevens (Thelma);
sons, Arlen Stevens, Jr. (Brenda) and Mark Stevens
(Beatrice); daughters, Lisa Stevens and Denise
Johnson; eight grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren;
godchildren, Christin McKenzie
and Carla O?Neal; adopted daughter, Marie
Hood, in 2005, and became an instant grandfather
of four additional grandchildren; and a host of inlaws,
other relatives and friends.