Steven Charles Phelps, the son of Charles and Joyce Phelps, was born on May 10, 1961 in Washington, DC and grew up in Rockledge, FL. He attended Rockledge High School, where he excelled as a scholar athlete. He was an avid outdoorsman with a special fondness for fishing. After excelling as a young cadet in JROTC, Steve set his sights on West Point. He earned his appointment and, after graduating high school in 1979, joined the ranks of the USMA Class of 1983, “Proud to Be ’83!”

After surviving plebe year in Company H-4, Steve joined his forever companymates in A-3, the “Armadillos,” where he rose to the rank of cadet lieutenant. Trading sunny beaches for the wintry gloom of upstate New York was a formidable task for a Florida boy. Steve, however, was never defined by his circumstances. His indomitable faith in God allowed him to rise above anything West Point could dish out.

While at West Point, Steve excelled as a member of several intercollegiate athletic teams and was also tops in every annual athletic challenge in Company A-3, raising the bar each year. In November 1982, he completed the Marine Corps Marathon in an amazing time of 2:45:09, qualifying him for the Boston Marathon in 1983, and he finished that challenging course in a time of 2:48:42! Steve’s athletic prowess continued to shine while on active duty. In 1985, Steve became the first American to win the Schutzenschnur, the annual German marksmanship competition (running and shooting).

Throughout his entire life, Steve was always focused on others. He served as a cadet Special Olympics ambassador and rose to become the cadet-in-charge of USMA’s Big Brothers Big Sisters Club his firstie year.

With a strong desire to lead soldiers, Steve branched Infantry, choosing the 1st Infantry Division as his first assignment. Following graduation, Steve reported to Fort Benning, GA for IOBC. Steve once again excelled, earning the top APFT award, setting a record with 115 pushups, 126 sit-ups, and a 9:40 2-mile run!

After reporting to Fort Riley, KS, Steve was assigned as a platoon leader in D Company, 4-16th Infantry Regiment. He soon earned a coveted slot to Ranger School, earning his tab in June 1984. One month later, Steve married the love of his life, Deborah Anne “Debbie” Olmeda-Saenz. As a cadet, Steve had traded his water skis for snow skis and, during his very first time skiing at Victor Constant Ski Area, the native Floridian literally ran into Debbie. Luckily, both were unharmed!  Undaunted by their “accidental” meeting on the slopes, Steve pursued a relationship with her, later saying that it was “love at first sight!” For her part, Debbie was entranced by Steve’s beautiful green eyes and infectious smile. In the end, their love would last for more than 40 years!

After a short honeymoon, Steve and Debbie lived at Fort Riley until his unit transitioned to GÖppingen, Germany. There, Steve exhibited superior leadership, earning recognition as one of the three most outstanding lieutenants in the 1st Infantry Division (Forward). Subsequently, he was assigned as executive officer of the division’s largest company.

Steve returned to the U.S. for IOAC in 1987 and, soon after his arrival, Steve and Debbie were ecstatic to welcome their first-born son, Vincent!

After IOAC in 1988, Steve was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, where he served as a company commander. It was during Operation Just Cause in 1989 in the Republic of Panama that Steve’s leadership would shine brightest. Steve led his company in a successful assault to extract American hostages, freeing everyone without fatalities. While still in Panama, Steve’s battalion commander asked him if he had brought his fishing pole. Replying “always,” the two went on to catch enough fish to feed the entire battalion!

In 1990, Steve deployed to Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield, his second combat tour. As the brigade assistant operations officer, he helped devise the 82nd Airborne Division’s successful plan of attack deep into Iraq.

Following Desert Storm, Steve left the service and settled back into his hometown of Rockledge, where he and Debbie welcomed their second son, Gregory. After a brief stint as a finance officer for McDonnell Douglas, Steve went on to become one of the most successful financial advisors in the history of Edward Jones Investments. Steve earned numerous industry awards and rose to supervise all operations in Central Florida. Yet, his success as a financial advisor was just the opportunity for Steve to do what he did best, serve others.

Steve’s Christian values and love for others is what defined him. His faith was central to everything he did—in athletics, in the Army, in his career as a financial advisor and, most of all, with his family. Steve’s keen intelligence, extraordinary expertise, and an uncanny ability to understand and connect to his clients made for an amazingly successful career at Edward Jones. Steve simply said that his work was never about the numbers, rather it was “all about helping people!”

Steve Phelps influenced positive change in every organization lucky enough to have him. Steve has gone on to his reward in the next, leaving his many good works and those that he loved in this world as an everlasting legacy.

Steve is survived by his wife, Debbie, and sons Vincent (wife Megan, grandchildren Ashlyn and Brian) and Gregory (wife Nina). Steve considered his sons to be his greatest accomplishment. He is interred at West Point. Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servant!

— Classmates