John Stedman passed away peacefully at his home in Pleasant Hill surrounded by family. He was 89. John is survived by his wife of 59 years Ruth; daughters and son-in-law Teresa Stedman and Mona and Jon Hardisty; grandsons Alex Williams and Tyler Metteer; brothers and sisters-in-law Ken and Peggy Stedman and Robert and Carol Stedman; and several nieces and nephews. Born the fourth of six sons in Dayton, Wash., John served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict prior to earning a degree at Washington State University in Pullman. He continued his studies in Mexico City and then California, where he attended seminary and later pursued a teaching certificate. John and Ruth met on a blind date, marrying in 1962 and settling in San Jose. There they had two daughters and served as high school youth counselors at their church.
In 1972 the family moved to Oregon so John could teach math at Pleasant Hill High School. John earned an MS in computer science from the University of Oregon in 1976 and helped start Pleasant Hill’s computer program. He coached basketball and football until he left teaching in 1990 to join Ruth full time in their Stedman Tax Services business. A memorial service will be Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. at Garden Way Church, Eugene. Afterward, there will be a reception at the family home in Pleasant Hill.