Obituary of Ernest L. Stepney

Ernest L. “Lee” Stepney, age 52 of 608 10th. Avenue, Coralville, died Friday, March 12, 2004, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City from renal disease. Funeral services will be held later next week in Norfolk, Virginia through the Carlos A. Howard Funeral Home in Norfolk. No services are planned locally at this time. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Lee’s local arrangements and his family here. A memorial fund has been established in his memory. Ernest Leon Stepney Jr. was born June 16, 1951, in Norfolk, Virginia the son of Ernest L. Stepney Sr. and Christine A. Wiggins Stepney. For over twenty years he lived in Chicago before moving to the Iowa City-Coralville area seven years ago. He has been in the sales and marketing field most of his life, having to retire because of health reasons. Lee enjoyed being a leader in the Boy Scout Troop which was sponsored by the church where he was a member, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter –Day Saints in Iowa City. Spending time with his family and friends, his three dogs, playing the saxaphone and guitar brought him great joy. His family includes his mother, Christine Stepney of Norfolk, VA; sisters, Linda and her husband, Horace McCoy of Naperville, IL, and LaFreda Smith of Stafford, VA; brother, Walter Stepney of Norfolk, VA; his partner in his life for many years, Julie Mellecker of Coralville; Aunts, Wilamae Smith of Virginia Beach, VA, and Vivian Stepney of Norfolk, VA; and a number of nieces and nephews.