Junius Stitt Stearns, Jr. was the first of five children born to Junius Stitt Stearns (1885-1965) and Ethel Elvira Ellis (1893-1956). His paternal grandparents were Dulin Benson Stearns (1863-1962) and Mary Jane Beachum (1867-1910) of Charlotte, NC; and his maternal grandparents were Thomas J. Ellis and Mary H. "Molly" Magill, of Hodges, SC. His siblings were: Margaret Ellen Stearns (1915-1918), Rachel Wilson Stearns (1917-2005, Mrs. Samuel Everett Montgomery), Frank Ellis Stearns (1918-2003) and George Benson Stearns (1920-2003). Junius married Katharine Stedman Lasater (1913-2007, a daughter of David Eaton Lasater and Louisa Brown Harrington) in 1940. They had two children, Mary Katharine Stearns Tuley and Junius Stitt Stearns, III.
Junius left college without graduating, so that his younger brothers would have a chance to go. He served in the South Pacific during World War Two. He was a Colonel in the NC National Guard, and owned a construction company in Laurinburg, NC. He was a man of few words, but of infinite good humor, quiet strength and deep love.
Here are a few excerpts from a wonderfully humorous essay Junius wrote about his peculiar affinity with the number 13, titled "Lucky Thirteen":
"I was born with 13 letters in my name on September 13, 1913. My father and my son both had 13 letters in their names. As if that weren't enough, I found that I had a sister, a brother, an aunt, an uncle, and a grandmother who had 13 letters in their names. Eventually my daughter would join this group.
"While still a young man, I became attracted to the National Guard. In retrospect I deduce that it must have been because of the 13 letters in the words. And it must have been a coincidence that the outfit I joined was the 113th Field Artillery. There were many other 13s to contend with, as you will see, before I completed my military career. Little did I know at that time that, 13 years later, I would have advanced in rank 13 times (held four ranks twice each because of four months' absence from the Guard), married, sired a son, and polished off a good-sized war.
"Before I get ahead of my story, let me say that I was married on September 13, 1940. (This wasn't easy, because we had to start mobilization to cause this phenomenon.) Of course, I had to pick a wife who was born in 1913. Our first residence was 13 South Crawford (13 letters) in Monroe.
"During the three decades between marriage and retirement, I was stationed at 13 military posts within the continental United States: Jackson, Belvoir, Leavenworth, Hood, Blanding, Sam Houston, Stoneman, Bragg, Jay, Benning, Gordon, Stewart, and Lee. The toughest and most physically exhausting was the Tank Destroyer (13 letters) School at Fort Hood, Texas (13). But there were a wide variety of requirements in order to come up with my 13 military specialties: Field Artillery, Coast Artillery, Intelligence, Armor, Engineers, General Staff, Photo Interpretation, Research and Development, Infantry, Military Police, Logistics, Medical Evacuation, and Ordnance.
"When I went overseas, Lucky Thirteen still followed me. There were exactly 13 moves from departure until return: Dutch liner 'Klipfontain' to Brisbane to Goodenough Island to Finschhafen, New Guinea, to Cape Gloucester, New Britain, to Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, to flag ship 'Wasatch' to Leyte, Philippines, to Mangalden, Philippines, to Manila, Philippines, to flag ship 'Auburn' to Kyoto, Japan, to light cruiser 'Pasadena.' Upon my return, my Army wife and Army brat joined me for their brief and exasperating try at Army life at Shanks Village (13 letters). I retired from military life September 13, 1973.
"If you think my military experience was 13-slanted, I've got news for you. During my years of gainful employment I have been associated with exactly 13 different organizations of business: Federal Emergency Relief Administration, J. S. Stearns Construction, U. S. Army, State of North Carolina, City of Greensboro, Chips, Hardees, Bodest, Richmond Tech, Anson Tech, Wickes, Rorie Construction Company, and McNair Investment Company. My place of residence is 517 (total: 13) West Boulevard (13).
"There are others, I'm sure, including a remarkable string of 13s in license plate numbers, but the one 13 which I enjoy most is retirement pay -- which is spelled with 13 letters." by Junius S. Stearns, Jr.
Recently, in sharing some memories of her father, Junius' only daughter wrote: "I love these things about Daddy: that he was an Eagle Scout at twelve years old and became President of the North Carolina National Guard Association in the 1970s, served all over Southeast Asia (including Hiroshima and Nagasaki) during World War II, played violin, sang in barbershop quartets, was a terrific dancer, lettered in four sports in high school, was considered a Latin scholar, became known around the Southeastern United States and beyond as an expert in stamps and coins, loved birds and gardening, was married to my mother for 43 years, and...said, when asked at age seventy to describe his personal history, 'I've had a good life. I got my money's worth.'"
Lucky Thirteen? Perhaps. Those of us who knew him sure were lucky!!! Perhaps the best tribute for the Latin scholar (who gallantly escorted his elderly Latin teacher to a high school prom) is North Carolina's old Latin motto "Esse Quam Videre," which translates, "To be rather than to seem." In our modern world, there's not much authentic, but Junius Stitt Stearns, Jr. truly and genuinely embodied the idea and ideals of a true Southern Gentleman.
Junius left college without graduating, so that his younger brothers would have a chance to go. He served in the South Pacific during World War Two. He was a Colonel in the NC National Guard, and owned a construction company in Laurinburg, NC. He was a man of few words, but of infinite good humor, quiet strength and deep love.
Here are a few excerpts from a wonderfully humorous essay Junius wrote about his peculiar affinity with the number 13, titled "Lucky Thirteen":
"I was born with 13 letters in my name on September 13, 1913. My father and my son both had 13 letters in their names. As if that weren't enough, I found that I had a sister, a brother, an aunt, an uncle, and a grandmother who had 13 letters in their names. Eventually my daughter would join this group.
"While still a young man, I became attracted to the National Guard. In retrospect I deduce that it must have been because of the 13 letters in the words. And it must have been a coincidence that the outfit I joined was the 113th Field Artillery. There were many other 13s to contend with, as you will see, before I completed my military career. Little did I know at that time that, 13 years later, I would have advanced in rank 13 times (held four ranks twice each because of four months' absence from the Guard), married, sired a son, and polished off a good-sized war.
"Before I get ahead of my story, let me say that I was married on September 13, 1940. (This wasn't easy, because we had to start mobilization to cause this phenomenon.) Of course, I had to pick a wife who was born in 1913. Our first residence was 13 South Crawford (13 letters) in Monroe.
"During the three decades between marriage and retirement, I was stationed at 13 military posts within the continental United States: Jackson, Belvoir, Leavenworth, Hood, Blanding, Sam Houston, Stoneman, Bragg, Jay, Benning, Gordon, Stewart, and Lee. The toughest and most physically exhausting was the Tank Destroyer (13 letters) School at Fort Hood, Texas (13). But there were a wide variety of requirements in order to come up with my 13 military specialties: Field Artillery, Coast Artillery, Intelligence, Armor, Engineers, General Staff, Photo Interpretation, Research and Development, Infantry, Military Police, Logistics, Medical Evacuation, and Ordnance.
"When I went overseas, Lucky Thirteen still followed me. There were exactly 13 moves from departure until return: Dutch liner 'Klipfontain' to Brisbane to Goodenough Island to Finschhafen, New Guinea, to Cape Gloucester, New Britain, to Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, to flag ship 'Wasatch' to Leyte, Philippines, to Mangalden, Philippines, to Manila, Philippines, to flag ship 'Auburn' to Kyoto, Japan, to light cruiser 'Pasadena.' Upon my return, my Army wife and Army brat joined me for their brief and exasperating try at Army life at Shanks Village (13 letters). I retired from military life September 13, 1973.
"If you think my military experience was 13-slanted, I've got news for you. During my years of gainful employment I have been associated with exactly 13 different organizations of business: Federal Emergency Relief Administration, J. S. Stearns Construction, U. S. Army, State of North Carolina, City of Greensboro, Chips, Hardees, Bodest, Richmond Tech, Anson Tech, Wickes, Rorie Construction Company, and McNair Investment Company. My place of residence is 517 (total: 13) West Boulevard (13).
"There are others, I'm sure, including a remarkable string of 13s in license plate numbers, but the one 13 which I enjoy most is retirement pay -- which is spelled with 13 letters." by Junius S. Stearns, Jr.
Recently, in sharing some memories of her father, Junius' only daughter wrote: "I love these things about Daddy: that he was an Eagle Scout at twelve years old and became President of the North Carolina National Guard Association in the 1970s, served all over Southeast Asia (including Hiroshima and Nagasaki) during World War II, played violin, sang in barbershop quartets, was a terrific dancer, lettered in four sports in high school, was considered a Latin scholar, became known around the Southeastern United States and beyond as an expert in stamps and coins, loved birds and gardening, was married to my mother for 43 years, and...said, when asked at age seventy to describe his personal history, 'I've had a good life. I got my money's worth.'"
Lucky Thirteen? Perhaps. Those of us who knew him sure were lucky!!! Perhaps the best tribute for the Latin scholar (who gallantly escorted his elderly Latin teacher to a high school prom) is North Carolina's old Latin motto "Esse Quam Videre," which translates, "To be rather than to seem." In our modern world, there's not much authentic, but Junius Stitt Stearns, Jr. truly and genuinely embodied the idea and ideals of a true Southern Gentleman.
Junius Stitt Stearns, Jr. was the first of five children born to Junius Stitt Stearns (1885-1965) and Ethel Elvira Ellis (1893-1956). His paternal grandparents were Dulin Benson Stearns (1863-1962) and Mary Jane Beachum (1867-1910) of Charlotte, NC; and his maternal grandparents were Thomas J. Ellis and Mary H. "Molly" Magill, of Hodges, SC. His siblings were: Margaret Ellen Stearns (1915-1918), Rachel Wilson Stearns (1917-2005, Mrs. Samuel Everett Montgomery), Frank Ellis Stearns (1918-2003) and George Benson Stearns (1920-2003). Junius married Katharine Stedman Lasater (1913-2007, a daughter of David Eaton Lasater and Louisa Brown Harrington) in 1940. They had two children, Mary Katharine Stearns Tuley and Junius Stitt Stearns, III.
Junius left college without graduating, so that his younger brothers would have a chance to go. He served in the South Pacific during World War Two. He was a Colonel in the NC National Guard, and owned a construction company in Laurinburg, NC. He was a man of few words, but of infinite good humor, quiet strength and deep love.
Here are a few excerpts from a wonderfully humorous essay Junius wrote about his peculiar affinity with the number 13, titled "Lucky Thirteen":
"I was born with 13 letters in my name on September 13, 1913. My father and my son both had 13 letters in their names. As if that weren't enough, I found that I had a sister, a brother, an aunt, an uncle, and a grandmother who had 13 letters in their names. Eventually my daughter would join this group.
"While still a young man, I became attracted to the National Guard. In retrospect I deduce that it must have been because of the 13 letters in the words. And it must have been a coincidence that the outfit I joined was the 113th Field Artillery. There were many other 13s to contend with, as you will see, before I completed my military career. Little did I know at that time that, 13 years later, I would have advanced in rank 13 times (held four ranks twice each because of four months' absence from the Guard), married, sired a son, and polished off a good-sized war.
"Before I get ahead of my story, let me say that I was married on September 13, 1940. (This wasn't easy, because we had to start mobilization to cause this phenomenon.) Of course, I had to pick a wife who was born in 1913. Our first residence was 13 South Crawford (13 letters) in Monroe.
"During the three decades between marriage and retirement, I was stationed at 13 military posts within the continental United States: Jackson, Belvoir, Leavenworth, Hood, Blanding, Sam Houston, Stoneman, Bragg, Jay, Benning, Gordon, Stewart, and Lee. The toughest and most physically exhausting was the Tank Destroyer (13 letters) School at Fort Hood, Texas (13). But there were a wide variety of requirements in order to come up with my 13 military specialties: Field Artillery, Coast Artillery, Intelligence, Armor, Engineers, General Staff, Photo Interpretation, Research and Development, Infantry, Military Police, Logistics, Medical Evacuation, and Ordnance.
"When I went overseas, Lucky Thirteen still followed me. There were exactly 13 moves from departure until return: Dutch liner 'Klipfontain' to Brisbane to Goodenough Island to Finschhafen, New Guinea, to Cape Gloucester, New Britain, to Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, to flag ship 'Wasatch' to Leyte, Philippines, to Mangalden, Philippines, to Manila, Philippines, to flag ship 'Auburn' to Kyoto, Japan, to light cruiser 'Pasadena.' Upon my return, my Army wife and Army brat joined me for their brief and exasperating try at Army life at Shanks Village (13 letters). I retired from military life September 13, 1973.
"If you think my military experience was 13-slanted, I've got news for you. During my years of gainful employment I have been associated with exactly 13 different organizations of business: Federal Emergency Relief Administration, J. S. Stearns Construction, U. S. Army, State of North Carolina, City of Greensboro, Chips, Hardees, Bodest, Richmond Tech, Anson Tech, Wickes, Rorie Construction Company, and McNair Investment Company. My place of residence is 517 (total: 13) West Boulevard (13).
"There are others, I'm sure, including a remarkable string of 13s in license plate numbers, but the one 13 which I enjoy most is retirement pay -- which is spelled with 13 letters." by Junius S. Stearns, Jr.
Recently, in sharing some memories of her father, Junius' only daughter wrote: "I love these things about Daddy: that he was an Eagle Scout at twelve years old and became President of the North Carolina National Guard Association in the 1970s, served all over Southeast Asia (including Hiroshima and Nagasaki) during World War II, played violin, sang in barbershop quartets, was a terrific dancer, lettered in four sports in high school, was considered a Latin scholar, became known around the Southeastern United States and beyond as an expert in stamps and coins, loved birds and gardening, was married to my mother for 43 years, and...said, when asked at age seventy to describe his personal history, 'I've had a good life. I got my money's worth.'"
Lucky Thirteen? Perhaps. Those of us who knew him sure were lucky!!! Perhaps the best tribute for the Latin scholar (who gallantly escorted his elderly Latin teacher to a high school prom) is North Carolina's old Latin motto "Esse Quam Videre," which translates, "To be rather than to seem." In our modern world, there's not much authentic, but Junius Stitt Stearns, Jr. truly and genuinely embodied the idea and ideals of a true Southern Gentleman.
Junius left college without graduating, so that his younger brothers would have a chance to go. He served in the South Pacific during World War Two. He was a Colonel in the NC National Guard, and owned a construction company in Laurinburg, NC. He was a man of few words, but of infinite good humor, quiet strength and deep love.
Here are a few excerpts from a wonderfully humorous essay Junius wrote about his peculiar affinity with the number 13, titled "Lucky Thirteen":
"I was born with 13 letters in my name on September 13, 1913. My father and my son both had 13 letters in their names. As if that weren't enough, I found that I had a sister, a brother, an aunt, an uncle, and a grandmother who had 13 letters in their names. Eventually my daughter would join this group.
"While still a young man, I became attracted to the National Guard. In retrospect I deduce that it must have been because of the 13 letters in the words. And it must have been a coincidence that the outfit I joined was the 113th Field Artillery. There were many other 13s to contend with, as you will see, before I completed my military career. Little did I know at that time that, 13 years later, I would have advanced in rank 13 times (held four ranks twice each because of four months' absence from the Guard), married, sired a son, and polished off a good-sized war.
"Before I get ahead of my story, let me say that I was married on September 13, 1940. (This wasn't easy, because we had to start mobilization to cause this phenomenon.) Of course, I had to pick a wife who was born in 1913. Our first residence was 13 South Crawford (13 letters) in Monroe.
"During the three decades between marriage and retirement, I was stationed at 13 military posts within the continental United States: Jackson, Belvoir, Leavenworth, Hood, Blanding, Sam Houston, Stoneman, Bragg, Jay, Benning, Gordon, Stewart, and Lee. The toughest and most physically exhausting was the Tank Destroyer (13 letters) School at Fort Hood, Texas (13). But there were a wide variety of requirements in order to come up with my 13 military specialties: Field Artillery, Coast Artillery, Intelligence, Armor, Engineers, General Staff, Photo Interpretation, Research and Development, Infantry, Military Police, Logistics, Medical Evacuation, and Ordnance.
"When I went overseas, Lucky Thirteen still followed me. There were exactly 13 moves from departure until return: Dutch liner 'Klipfontain' to Brisbane to Goodenough Island to Finschhafen, New Guinea, to Cape Gloucester, New Britain, to Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, to flag ship 'Wasatch' to Leyte, Philippines, to Mangalden, Philippines, to Manila, Philippines, to flag ship 'Auburn' to Kyoto, Japan, to light cruiser 'Pasadena.' Upon my return, my Army wife and Army brat joined me for their brief and exasperating try at Army life at Shanks Village (13 letters). I retired from military life September 13, 1973.
"If you think my military experience was 13-slanted, I've got news for you. During my years of gainful employment I have been associated with exactly 13 different organizations of business: Federal Emergency Relief Administration, J. S. Stearns Construction, U. S. Army, State of North Carolina, City of Greensboro, Chips, Hardees, Bodest, Richmond Tech, Anson Tech, Wickes, Rorie Construction Company, and McNair Investment Company. My place of residence is 517 (total: 13) West Boulevard (13).
"There are others, I'm sure, including a remarkable string of 13s in license plate numbers, but the one 13 which I enjoy most is retirement pay -- which is spelled with 13 letters." by Junius S. Stearns, Jr.
Recently, in sharing some memories of her father, Junius' only daughter wrote: "I love these things about Daddy: that he was an Eagle Scout at twelve years old and became President of the North Carolina National Guard Association in the 1970s, served all over Southeast Asia (including Hiroshima and Nagasaki) during World War II, played violin, sang in barbershop quartets, was a terrific dancer, lettered in four sports in high school, was considered a Latin scholar, became known around the Southeastern United States and beyond as an expert in stamps and coins, loved birds and gardening, was married to my mother for 43 years, and...said, when asked at age seventy to describe his personal history, 'I've had a good life. I got my money's worth.'"
Lucky Thirteen? Perhaps. Those of us who knew him sure were lucky!!! Perhaps the best tribute for the Latin scholar (who gallantly escorted his elderly Latin teacher to a high school prom) is North Carolina's old Latin motto "Esse Quam Videre," which translates, "To be rather than to seem." In our modern world, there's not much authentic, but Junius Stitt Stearns, Jr. truly and genuinely embodied the idea and ideals of a true Southern Gentleman.
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