Girard "Bud" Stegner
January 12, 1924 — October 10, 2015
Girard “Bud” Frederick Stegner, age 91, of Frederick, MD passed away on October 10, 2015 with family members at his side. Bud was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on January 12, 1924 to Eugene and Doris Stegner. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan but spent his summers with his grandparents in Napoleon, Ohio. In April 1943, Bud enlisted in the United States Army. His first overseas military assignment in June 1944 was the invasion force on Utah Beach to liberate the French in World War II. His Signal Depot Corps Unit 221 led him into five campaigns during the war. He assisted General Patton’s regiment with communications and equipment maintenance. Upon returning home, he met his wife, Betty Jean Curry at a Greek picnic. They were married on April 3, 1948.
The training he received in the service established him as an electrical engineer. He founded Stegner Electric Controls in Detroit through a partnership with his father. Later in life, he branched out to form his own corporation, Stegner Automation Systems. In 1982, Bud chose to relocate to Frederick, Maryland where he secured a position with Frederick Manufacturing Company. He retired in 1992 at the age of 70.
Bud was an active member of Evangelical Lutheran Church serving as an usher and regularly attending their men’s group. He was a proud member of the Frederick Elks Lodge, Frederick VFW and the American Legion Post. For several years he volunteered as a judge for the Frederick County Public Schools’ annual Science and Engineering Fair. He enjoyed gardening, canning, photography, and building birdhouses. These activities won many blue ribbons at the Great Frederick Fair.
Bud is survived by his children, James Stegner and Joyce Hennessee of Romeo, MI, Susan and Robert Payne of Frederick, MD, Robin and Scott Miner of Damascus, MD and his grandchildren Jim and Caitlin Payne of Frederick, MD, Jennifer Payne of Harrisonburg, VA, Katie and Walter Ratcliff of Columbia, MD, and Megan Miner of Damascus, MD. In March 2015, he was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Betty Jean. Bud was the oldest of six children and was preceded in death by his sisters Marilyn Runkle of Livonia, MI and Joan Barton of Redford MI. He is survived by his brother Thomas Stegner of Dearborn, MI as well as his sisters, Doris Strane of Sylvania, OH and Margaret Vore of Berkley, MI.
The family will receive visitors at Stauffer Funeral Home on Opossumtown Pike on Thursday, October 15, 2015 from 4-7 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 16 at Evangelical Lutheran Church in downtown Frederick, MD. Officiating will be Dr. Michael O'Donnell, Associate in Ministry.
If preferred, charitable contributions in honor of Bud’s military service may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
Private interment with military honors will be held at Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery at a later date.
Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com.