LESLIE D. STEPHENS

November 16, 1930 - April 28, 2011

Leslie (Les) Stephens, 80, of Lake Hopatcong, passed away on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at his home after a long illness.  His family was by his side. He was born in Hillside, NJ to Ethel Eleanor (Clay) and Leslie Aaron Stephens. Mr. Stephens  married Anne Honeychurch on August 17, 1956, and last year  celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary. Mr. Stephens proudly served in the US Army Corps of Engineers from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean Conflict.  He built pontoon bridges, transported supplies and later built and managed a saw mill to cut wood to build the bunkers. As a young man he worked for 16 years at the Reaction Motors Division of Thiokol where they developed the Bell X1 Engine that was used on the first aircraft to break the sound barrier.  Also, Reaction Motors developed the X15 Engine used on the first aircraft to fly in space and the 100 Trust Engines used on the Lunar Space Module. Mr. Stephens was employed at the Jefferson Township Police Department from 1978 to 1992. He was the department’s first civilian police dispatcher. Mr. Stephens was a member of the Lake Hopatcong American Legion Post 0245. During his life, Mr. Stephens enjoyed such things as Grand Prix Races, Nascar and the Dover Racetrack racing.  He also enjoyed motorcycling, jigsaw puzzles, nature study, wildlife, and bird watching. Mr. Stephens is survived by his loving wife Anne Stephens; his son Dr. Leslie Greg Stephens of Prescott, AZ; his nieces: Carolyne Quigley, Gale Flatt, and Fran Tansey; his nephews: Peter Hearn, Mark and Paul Frederick, and Bill and Jim Elliott; his sister-in-law Ruth Elliott of Jacksonville, FL, and his nephew-in-law, neighbor, and friend Blace Flatt. Funeral arrangements are private and are under the direction of the Stickle-Soltesz Funeral Home, Newfoundland, NJ. On line condolences:  www.sticklesolteszfuneralhome.com Donations in his memory may be made to the Jefferson Township Rescue Squad, Box 300, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849.