Stephen White Alexander

Obituary: Stephen White Alexander, 69, of Raleigh, NC, died peacefully Friday, January 11, 2019, from heart failure. He was born March 30, 1949, to Hugh Quincy Alexander and Myrtle White Alexander of Kannapolis, NC, where he enjoyed his childhood years. In 1967, Steve was part of the first graduating class from T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA, where he developed a love for gymnastics. Steve graduated from UNC at Chapel Hill with a BS degree focusing on marine biology. At UNC he excelled on the gymnastics team while establishing a reputation for being fearless on the parallel bars while enjoying a voracious appetite even for an athlete. During these years he lived life to the fullest, often flying to the out islands of the Bahamas as a private pilot so he could scuba dive in pristine waters. Following graduation he moved to California to earn his certification as a deep sea diver. He returned to NC quickly with no money and no job to insure the safety of his beloved Doberman, Mocca. Easter weekend of 1973, Steve suffered a terrible tragedy being struck on I-95 while changing a tire. He was unconscious for 6.5 weeks; following the hospitalization he endured years of rehab with memory loss and significant mobility issues. He never complained and never lost his sense of humor, his smile, or his appetite. Steve recovered enough to go to work and worked 33 years for the Architect of the Capitol in Washington, DC. Following retirement he moved to Raleigh, NC to be near family and attended First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh. He enjoyed his last four years at Independence Village of Olde Raleigh where he was pampered by his caregiver, Betty Fielder. He is survived by his siblings, William G. Alexander and Shelia Alexander of Raleigh, Hugh Q. Alexander and Jane Alexander of Montreat, NC, and Elizabeth A. Harrison and Bill Harrison of Ashland, VA, as well as his nephews and nieces and his lifelong friend and gymnastics teammate, Frank Jeffries of Raleigh. A service to celebrate Stephen's life will be held at Whitley's Funeral Chapel at 2:00 PM Saturday, January 19 with his sister, Elizabeth A. Harrison. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park. His family will receive friends at Whitley's Funeral Home from 1:00 to 2:00 PM Saturday, prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers a memorial donation can be made in his name to ACE the Alliance to Children Everywhere PO Box 55145 Seattle, WA 98155
Visitation: 1:00 to 2:00 PM Saturday January 19, 2019 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: 2:00 PM Saturday January 19, 2019 Whitley's Funeral Home Chapel

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park