Benjamin Robert Stephens

Lexington, SC .... Benjamin Robert Stephens, age 76, former husband and life-long companion to Dianne Morris Stephens, entered into eternal rest on March 26, 2023.

Ben was born July 30, 1946, in Charleston, South Carolina, son of the late Walter Richard Stephens, Sr. and Laura Elise Dubose Stephens. He graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina business school and was president of his Fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. He worked as a bank auditor at C&S Bank, Nations Bank and Bank of America. He retired at 40 years of age and joined the Peace Corps in Guatemala. He became fluent in Spanish in six months. He helped orphanages and small business owners in the region. He was a member of the free masons. However, the accomplishments he was most proud of were in the friendships he made and his role as a father and grandfather.

Ben knew how to live life.  He built a house in Chapin from the ground up with two good friends, Buzz Mathis, and Homer Wilson, on a whim. He enjoyed running with his friends and ran the Cooper River Bridge run in Charleston.  He traveled the country checking off bucket list items with his good friend John Mann of Guatemala. He played cards with friends in a villa overlooking a tropical volcano. He sailed around the Caribbean with friends from all over the world. He played golf with fraternity brothers and lifelong friends, Ron Farkas, Doug Butler, and Bob Davis, among others. He settled in a beach house in Carolina Beach, NC in his senior years, combing the beach with Dianne Stephens. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his former wife and loving companion, Dianne Morris Stephens; daughter and son-in-law, Laura Stephens Dieter and William Dieter of Portland, Oregon; grandchildren, Frederick Robert Dieter and Benjamin Walter Dieter; sister-in-law Glenda Dale Stephens of Charleston, SC; niece, Kim Stephens and nephew, Paul Stephens, also of Charleston, SC.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Walter Richard Stephens, Jr. of Charleston, SC.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 11:00 am in the New Zion Methodist Church Cemetery, 6969 Salem Road, New Zion, SC 29111.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to: Alzheimer's Association SC Chapter 4600 Park Road Ste 250, Charlotte, NC 28209 

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com to sign the family’s guest book.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

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