Stephen Dale Milburn

Stephen Dale Milburn, 68, of Fayetteville, NC, passed Wednesday, September 6, 2023. 

He was born October 2, 1954, in Saint Louis, MO, to the late Dale and Marilyn Milburn. After graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1976, he served as a Blackhawk pilot in the Army. After 20 years of service, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. As a result of his heroic achievements during Operation Desert Storm, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Legion of Merit. After retirement, he opened his first UPS Store in the Westwood Shopping Center in 1996, and opened two additional stores in Fort Liberty and Hope Mills in the years since.

Steve was deeply involved in service to the Fayetteville community. He was currently serving on the Fayetteville Airport Commission. He was past president of the Care Clinic Board of Directors, Greater Fayetteville Exchange Club, and the Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear. In addition, he proudly served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Carolinas District of Kiwanis. He was also a past president of the Fort Bragg Armed Services YMCA and past member of the National Armed Services YMCA Board of Directors.

He was a lifelong parishioner of Saint Patrick Catholic Church. He served as its finance council chairman for 10 years and was instrumental in the building of the new church in 2014.

Steve loved cheering on the Carolina Panthers, Tar Heels, and Army Black Knights. Underneath his gruff exterior was a kind and generous heart, freely (and often quietly) sharing his time and resources to those in need. He found great joy in socializing and spending time with people from all walks of life. He faithfully attended Friday morning breakfasts at Zorba’s with his dear friends, conducting general merriment and shenanigans. One of his favorite lasting traditions was the family’s annual vacation to Hilton Head Island for the last forty years, where he particularly enjoyed the local peel-and-eat shrimp.

He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Deborah, son Patrick (Taylor) Milburn, daughter Katharine (Roy) Sparks, and five grandchildren (Penny, Julia, Connor, James, and Jack) that he deeply adored. He will also be missed by surviving sisters, Jennifer (James) Kierns and Margaret (Homer) Sedighi and brother, John Milburn, as well as many nieces and nephews.

There will be a visitation at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Fayetteville on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. with Mass to follow at 11:00 a.m. He will be inurned at the Saint Patrick Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that a donation be made to The Care Clinic of Fayetteville in Steve’s memory. http:// care@thecareclinic.org

Services provided by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

Online condolences may be sent to http://www.jerniganwarren.com

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