Tounz C. Stephens

Tounz Carroll Stephens, 91, of Conway, passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2016. He was born January 25, 1925 in Naylor, Arkansas. Tounz was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Alma Lea Hall Stephens; his parents, Wesley A. Stephens and Ila Ogden Stephens; and a brother, L.P. Stephens. Tounz is survived by his daughter, Carol Stephens Daves and husband Velton; grandsons, Daniel Cole Daves and wife Katherine of Little Rock, and David Keith Daves of Fayetteville; and two great-grandchildren, Lydia Elfrida Daves and John River Reid Daves, both of Little Rock. He is also survived by his brother Cecil Stephens (wife Mary) of Conway; sister, Corinth Stephens Willbanks of Conway; and brother, Edward Stephens of Guy. Tounz is a veteran of the Pacific Theater of World War II. He was an anti-aircraft gunner aboard the USS Idaho and USS Maryland. He survived a kamikaze attack while serving aboard the USS Maryland during which he sustained a shoulder injury that he managed the rest of his life He crossed the International Dateline in the South Pacific on his 19th birthday in 1944. He participated in the Island Hopping campaign of the South Pacific. Tounz was a machinist at Westinghouse/Phillips in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was a union negotiator with the IBEW. He was a member of Iron Springs Lodge #342 and a 33rd degree Mason. He was a shrine clown and a member of Scimitar Shrine Temple of Little Rock, Arkansas. He is a member of Salem Methodist Church of Conway, Arkansas. An avid outdoorsman, Tounz enjoyed deer, hog, and turkey hunting, fishing, camping, and teaching his grandsons how to be good sportsmen. He was an excellent marksman who took great pride in shooting well. A career machinist, he had a large collection of specialty tools. All throughout his life, he enjoyed taking long trips, pulling his camper around the country, especially through the Southwest and the Rocky Mountain region. Everyone who met Tounz knew him as a loyal friend who would be there for them in times of distress. He always had a positive attitude even during the toughest times. He was very independent and strong, and he fought a hard fight against cancer to which he eventually succumbed. The end of Tounz's life was made more comfortable by staying in his own home with the help of his daughter and grandsons, Arkansas Hospice, Home Instead, and Faulkner County In-home Care. His last days were spent surrounded by family and friends who took special care of him. Several of Tounz's nephews will serve as pallbearers. They are Rick Willbanks, Lewis Paul Stephens, Jeff Stephens, David Stephens, Larry James Stephens, David Hall, and Howard Hall. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 19, 2016 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway. Interment will be in the veteran's section of Crestlawn Cemetery in Conway, Arkansas. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/conway.