WINTER HAVEN -- Known to kids as "Papa," nature lover James Edwin "Ed" Stephens believed in giving back to the community.

Mr. Stephens, of Winter Haven, died of lung cancer Monday (Aug. 22, 2005). He was 68.

Born March 11, 1937, in Lake Wales, he was a lifelong resident of Polk County. He graduated from Frostproof High School in 1955. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for two years. He graduated from the University of Tampa.

In banking, he started with First National Bank in 1960 and was promoted to assistant vice president the following year, managing the Commercial Loan Credit Department. From 1974 to 1996, he was employed by Lake Region Bank of Commerce, National Bank of Lake County, Harmon Fruit Co. Inc., Commerce Bank of Central Florida, and most recently First Commerce Banks of Florida Inc. as director and president. After his retirement from the banking industry in 1996, he earned his real estate license and joined Trueheart Properties as a commercial sales associate.

He was a member of the Elks Club, the Lake Region Yacht and Country Club, and the Cypress Gardens Rotary Club. He was on the board of directors for the Boys Club in Winter Haven.

"He's always loved children. He had five of his own, but anything he could do for kids was something he was interested in," said his wife, Betty Stephens. "The kids all knew him as `Papa.' He was a great storyteller and loved a joke. He had a wonderful sense of humor."

He may have been active in the community, but he was content to just sit on his deck and feed the birds.

"He loved to hunt and fish, and he played golf. He loved anything to do with nature," said Betty Stephens.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven and was recently nominated to be an elder there.

Mr. Stephens is survived by his wife, Betty Stephens; sons, James Edwin Stephens III, Center Hill, Theodore Craig Stephens, McDonough, Ga., Jonathon Edward Stephens, Orlando; daughters, Elizabeth Shannon Cahours, Clermont, Jennifer Elaine Gilmore, Clermont; brother, Joe Stephens, Carabelle; step-daughters, Lesley Finlay, Alpharetta, Ga., Cynthia Saterbo, Winter Haven, and Vicki Rafool, Lake Wales; step-son, Robert Van Hart, Lakeland; and 17 grandchildren.

Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven.

By KAITLYN RANZE
The Ledger