Steven Mark Fordham

Steven Mark Fordham

Washington

Steven Mark Fordham, age 67, of Washington, Iowa, died Monday, January 23, 2023, following a lengthy illness.

Celebration of Life services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 28, 2023, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home with Pastor David Cotner officiating. Military honors will be accorded following services at the funeral home. Interment will take place at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for St. Judes Children’s Hospital. Online condolences may be sent for Steven’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com.

Steven was born November 22, 1955, in Tyler, Texas, the son of Fred Willis and Nelda (Waters) Fordham. He graduated from MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas, and attended the University of Texas at Arlington. He was united in marriage to Diana Stout on February 22, 1980, in Norfolk, Virginia. Diana preceded him in death in 2017. Steven was married to Donna Harper on July 24, 2021, in Washington, Iowa.

Steven served honorably in the United States Navy from 1975 until 1994. Steven received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Illinois University while serving in the United States Navy. Following his retirement from the Navy, he worked as an Engineer for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad for 20 years. He lived for a significant amount of time in Wales, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Hawaii prior to moving to Iowa in 2010. He was a member of Prairie Flower Baptist Church in Washington.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Fordham of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Esther Vazquez of Goshen, Indiana; daughter, Sarah Smith and husband Tony of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Ruth Melvin and husband John of Henderson, Texas; grandchildren: Marcos and Maya Vazquez; one brother, Daniel Fordham of Henderson, Texas; stepchildren, Karla Bell and husband Scott of Marina, California; Keith Harper of San Antonio, Texas; Elissa Quinn and husband Lloyd of Pittsburg, Texas; step-grandchildren, Matthew, Adam, Hannah and Jacob Bell; and Connor, Landon, Tucker and Emersyn Quinn.

Steven was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Diana; and sister-in-law, Helen Fordham.