Stephen Robert Koons

Stephen Robert Koons, 78, a retired telecommunications executive, passed into eternal life on
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at Medical City North Hills Hospital, North Richland Hills, TX. Steve was
a loving husband, father, and grandfather who was known for his unwavering loyalty, his passion
for excellence, his tireless commitment to service, and his fantastic storytelling.
He was born on January 10, 1947 in York, Pennsylvania and was preceded in death by his father
Arthur Robert “Jack” Koons and his mother Betty Jane (Meckley) Koons, both life-long residents
of York, PA. Steve is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Kathy Koons of North Richland
Hills, TX; his daughter, Jennifer Bales, her husband, Eric Bales, granddaughter, Christi, and
grandsons Joseph, Peter, and Michael all of North Richland Hills, TX; his son, Jared Koons, of
New Fairview, TX; and his brother, Scott Koons and his wife Pamela Marshall Koons of
Gainesville, FL.
He was a graduate of York Central High School, Class of 1964. In 1966, he earned an Associate
of Science Degree in Business Management from York College of Pennsylvania and then in 1968
graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. On
February 8, 1969, in Alliance, Ohio, he married Kathy, his college sweetheart who he met on a
blind date.
Steve was a U.S. Army Vietnam Era veteran (1969–1971), where he was a Personnel Specialist,
achieving the rank of Specialist 5 th Class. After military service, he earned an MBA in
Organizational Leadership Theory from Gannon University in Erie, PA. He enjoyed a 34-year
career with GTE/Verizon, last serving as a Corporate Director of Process Planning at the
company’s headquarters in Irving, TX. During his career he and his family lived in Pennsylvania,
Indiana, and Connecticut. In 1989 Steve moved to Colleyville, TX with his family.
Upon his retirement from GTE/Verizon in 2002 he and his wife moved to North Richland Hills
where he became a Marketing and Sales Consultant for Cambridge Homes. He retired from this
second career in 2012 and subsequently devoted himself to volunteer work serving Good
Shepherd Catholic Community in Colleyville, where he was a founding member, in many
ministries and leadership roles; to his city on numerous North Richland Hills commissions,
committees, and boards; and to his neighborhood HOA where he chaired several committees and
served as the President of the Board of Directors.
He thoroughly enjoyed travelling with his wife, especially to his beloved island of Aruba, and
doting over his four grandchildren, who knew him as Pawpaw. Steve spent his spare time
studying American history, listening to Doo Wop music, and sending smiles via daily memes to
friends and family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11am on Thursday, July 24 at Good Shepherd Catholic
Community, 1000 Tinker Road, Colleyville, TX. Pallbearers will be his son Jared Koons
and grandson Joseph Bales. The family will receive friends from 4pm to 6pm on Wednesday, July
23 at Forest Ridge Funeral Home, 8525 Mid Cities Boulevard, North Richland Hills, TX.
In lieu of flowers, it was Steve’s wish that memorial contributions be made to Catholic Charities of
the Diocese of Fort Worth: https://catholiccharitiesfortworth.org/giving-opportunities/