Dr. Robert McLelland Stevenson, 82, of Statesville, N.C., passed Tuesday, September 6, 2016, at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.
Born September 17, 1933, he was the son of the late Robert Rockwell Stevenson and Rachel McLelland Stevenson.
He graduated from Scotts High School Class of 1951, Davidson College Class of 1955 and U.N.C. Chapel Hill Medical School Class of 1959.
On July 15, 1961, he was married to Judith (Judy) Whisenant Stevenson who died March 7, 2014.
Dr. Stevenson did his Medical Residency at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Va. from 1959 until 1963. In 1964 he came to Davis Hospital in Statesville where he presided over the Radiology Department until called into the U. S. Army from 1967 until 1969 during the Vietnam War.
Following his service to his country he became the first full-time Radiologist at the new Lincoln County Hospital where he stayed until 1979. While in Lincolnton he was an avid pee-wee football coach and established the Rotary Rams little league football program from 1972 to 1979.
In 1979 he returned to his home County (Iredell) and Davis Hospital where he continued to work until 2003.
Following that he traveled to many different cities in North Carolina to help with Radiology. He retired from active work in 2008. Dr. Stevenson was a past president of the Statesville Rotary Club and was also a Paul Harris Fellow.
Dr. Stevenson was a loving husband, devoted father and grandfather and enjoyed having a big garden on his farm. He was an avid hunter and rifleman and was a founding member of the Iredell Gun Club. He is survived by four sons, Charles (Chuck) Joseph Stevenson of Statesville, John Gregory Stevenson and wife, Sterling, of Charlotte, Robert (Rob) Blake Stevenson and James (Jim) McLelland Stevenson, both of Statesville.
Also surviving are two grandsons, Banks and Mac Stevenson of Charlotte, along with two brothers-in-law, Charles L. (Chub) Whisenant of Tampa, Fla., and Gregory A. Whisenant (Jan) of Lincolnton, one sister-in-law, Cindy Moose (John) of Belmont, N.C. and two nieces, Megan Moose and Mandy Goodwin (Jason).
Services celebrating the life of Dr. Stevenson will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Monday, September 12, 2016 at Concord Presbyterian Church with Rev. Kyle Goodman and Rev. Grant Sharp officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will visit with friends on Sunday evening at Nicholson Funeral Home from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M.
Active pallbearers will be his sons: Chuck, Jim and John Stevenson, Rondal Lineberger, Shawn Fleming, Frederick Frey, Shannon St. Clair and Kenneth Herndon.Honorary pallbearers will be Rob Stevenson and Lentz Waugh.
Condolences may be sent online to the family to www.nicholsonfunerals.com.
Memorials may be given to the Gordon Hospice House, C/O Hospice & Palliative Care Of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Rd., Statesville, N.C. 28625. Nicholson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
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