MEMORIALS: DANIEL CRAIG STEVENS

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Mar 2004

Daniel Craig Stevens was born in Akron, OH, on August 31, 1946, the first of four children born to James and Helen Stevens, an optometrist and an optician who worked together. The family moved to Kettering, OH when Daniel was in the fourth grade. After graduation from Fairmont High School in 1964, Daniel attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, for two years before completing his B.A. at Cedarville College, Cedarville, OH, in 1969. Further education included a Th.M. degree from Dallas Theological Seminary (1973) and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University (1982).

On june 13, 1970, Daniel and Suzanne O'Shell were married at Berea Baptist Church in Berea, OH. They met in a class at Cedarville. After pastoring the Charity Baptist Church in McClain, VA, Dan, Sue, and their son Matthew, moved back to Cedarville College, where Dan served as alumni coordinator from 1974-78. Dan taught Christian Education at Grand Rapids College and Seminary from 1978-85, then served as chair of the Christian Education Department at Western Seminary, Portland, OR from 1985-89.

Moving to Southern California, Daniel worked for the Grace Theological Seminary extension program during its final year, and then served as director of the Doctor of Education program at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, CA, then as Assistant Dean of Continuing Education at Biola-Talbot from 1990-2002. The Stevens were members of Grace Church in Cerritos, CA.

At the time of his death, Daniel was beginning his second semester as Professor of Biblical Education at Cedarville University. he died several hours after an automobile accident on January 16, 2003. he lived 56 years, 4 months, and 16 days. Daniel had traveled with Youth for Christ to South America and Jamaica, and had taught in Russia, the Ukraine, Korea, and Hong Kong. he was an avid photographer, enjoyed computers, and loved teaching Sunday School. Dan had been a member of the Evangelical Theological Society since 2002.

Left to mourn Daniel's passing are his wife, Suzanne of Beavercreek, OH; sons Matthew and his wife Jennifer, with daughter, Brenna of Cotati, CA; Benjamin and his wife Tina of Bellingham, WA; Timothy and his wife Heidi with daughters Makayla and Audrey of Windsor, CA; and Jonathan; his mother, Helen Stevens of Kettering, OH; his siblings Jan and husband Rex Hunn of Germantown, OH; Kevin Stevens and his wife Leslie of Mission Viejo, CA; and Lisa and her husband, Greg Smith of Kettering, OH; nieces Lisa Hunn; Carly, Emily and Jessica Smith; and nephews Sean, Nathan, and Jack Stevens.