John Walton Stephens, 89, died March 25, 2015, at Thorne Care Center, Hutchinson. He was born Sept. 17, 1925, to Frank Christopher and Lucille (Smulling) Stephens in Keokuk, Iowa.

He was a 1943 graduate of Hamilton High School and attended college in Newberry, South Carolina. John was a World War II veteran; he flew Mustangs off of the Saratoga aircraft carrier in the Pacific phase of the war. The fighters provided protection to the bombers coming back from their bombing mission. He retired from Continental Oil Company better known as Conoco. He was a member of Faith United Methodist Church and the Elks Lodge #453.

On May 7, 1945, he married Bernadine Elizabeth Simon in Chicago, Ill. She died Oct. 20, 2005. Survivors include: sons, Gary Lee Stephens and wife Venetta of Chesapeake, Va., Craig Allen Stephens and wife Twyla of Warsaw, Ill., Mark J. Stephens and wife Shelley of Hutchinson; grandson, John R. Stephens; half brother, Bob Smulling and wife Carol of Fort Collins, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Cynthia Ann Hattendorf.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 30, 2015, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with Pastor Ron Kite presiding. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Burial Park. Friends may call from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, with the family to receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith United Methodist Church or Hutchinson Animal Shelter, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.