Ardth Wilborn Stephens

Ardth Stephens passed peacefully at home after a courageous battle with cancer on June 24, 2024, He was born on February 10, 1935 to Elijah Joshua Stephens and Naoma Stephens. He is preceded in death by his parents and his 11 brothers and sisters. Ardth was born in Cash and grew up in Terrell where he worked at Jim Walters Doors for just over 20 years. In those two decades, Ardth was an invaluable resource to the many builders, contractors and handymen, each of whom depended on Ardth’s knowledge base and ability to always find a solution to a construction challenge. After meeting a beautiful young lady named Gwin Smith at Killians’ Drive In (where she was working at the time), Ardth married her on June 1, 1957 and together they shared a love that built a family and a home for over 67 years. Ardth loved being in the outdoors and was the first to go fishing and hunting with family and friends every chance he could. His love of guns enabled him to become a master gunsmith with a love of assembling them from beginning parts, to designing them in custom projects as well as tailor made ammunition choices for each firearm. A quiet man by nature, when Ardth spoke, his intellect and ability to converse about all sorts of subjects was a conversational treasure he willingly shared with everyone he met and knew. He was a devoted husband to Gwin and a dedicated father to his sons, Terry and Gary, but when he became PePaw to his grands and great grands, Ardth really found his calling in spending time with the very ones who would carry on his legacy of love and commitment to those loved by him. Ardth is survived by his wife Margie Gwindolyn “Gwin” Smith Stephens; his sons: Terry Stephens, Gary Stephens and wife, Becky; grandchildren: Jennifer Linhart and husband, David, Jeremy Stephens, Taylor Adams and husband, Dakota: three great grandchildren: Hadley, Hallie and Henry; his sister Anneice Luellen; sisters-in-law: Bonny Stephens, Panzy Stephens and Alphie Hughes as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and other relatives. Funeral service will be at 11:00am, Monday, July 1, 2024 at Max Slayton Funeral Chapel with interment to follow at Oakland Memorial Park. His family will receive friends 5:00pm to 7:00pm, Sunday, June 30, 2024 at the funeral home.

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Ardth Wilborn Stephens

February 10, 1935 - June 24, 2024