Edwin MacCulloch Stephens, Jr.Virginia Beach – Edwin MacCulloch Stephens, Jr. passed away peacefully with his wife at his side at Westminster Canterbury on August 2, 2015.

“Mac”, as he was known, was born on June 4th, 1918 in Norfolk, Virginia, and had recently celebrated his 97th birthday. He was predeceased by his parents, Marie Elrod Stephens and Edwin MacCulloch Stephens.

Mac grew up in Ocean View and graduated from Maury High School in 1936. He went to work for his aunt’s husband, Earl Duke, at the Investment Corporation of Norfolk, where he remained for many years. Mac attended the College of William & Mary.

During World War II, Mac enlisted in the US Navy. He attended flight school at the University of North Carolina, and was designated a Naval Aviator, Lt. J.G. in 1947 at NAS, Pensacola, Florida. Mac was a torpedo pilot, flying a VT 47, and served as a land and signal officer aboard the USS Nassau and the USS Franklin. He received a purple heart for his service when the Franklin was attacked in the Pacific.

Mac was an officer in the Investment Corporation of Norfolk, the Investment Corporation of Virginia, and United Virginia Bankshares, which became Crestar Bank. He was a vice president and treasurer at Crestar in Richmond, and took an early retirement from the bank. He returned to Norfolk, and went to work for George Kaufman when he was developing the Guest Quarters Residence Hotels. Mac retired again in 1998, and enjoyed playing golf and swimming in the ocean.

Mac served as president of the Exchange Club of Norfolk, the Norfolk Boys and Girls Club, and was on the board of the local chapter of the Lupus Foundation. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach, where he served many times as a deacon and elder.

Mac is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Ellen Riley Stephens also of Westminster Canterbury, three children, James Edwin Stephens II (Judy) of Portsmouth, VA, Anne Stephens Dickinson (John), of Windsor, VA, and Susan Stephens Edwards (Scott) of Tiburon, California, and three grandchildren, Amanda and Damon Stephens of Portsmouth, VA, and Alexander Edwards of San Francisco, California. Mac is also survived by a niece, Katherine Rivers of Raleigh, NC and two nephews, Michael and R. Patrick Gomez, of Virginia Beach, VA, and several great nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the hospice staff at Westminster Canterbury, and special nurses Candy, Rachel, and Nadine, who Mac called his other daughters.

A memorial service will be held in the Holy Trinity Chapel at Westminster Canterbury on Thursday, August 6 at 2 pm. HD Oliver Funeral Apts., Virginia Beach Chapel is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.

Memorial contributions in Mac’s name may be made to a charity of one’s choice .