James Loyd Stepp

James Loyd Stepp Jr. Age 61 of Hickory, NC passed away on November 20th, 2024, surrounded by loved ones singing hymns and holding his hand. The first child of James Sr and Helen Stepp he was born on October 24th, 1963. James attended Hickory City Schools, Caldwell Community College and Catawba Valley Community College. While in high school he met his wife, Donna, of 28 years together they raised two daughters. He was a lifelong member of Faith Olive Baptist Church where he has formerly served as a Sunday School teacher. James was employed in the hosiery industry and spent 4 years active service in the Army. His brother in arm Al Schwab noted the following about James’s time spent as a soldier:

James proudly served in the Second Battalion, Fourteenth Infantry Regiment of the Tenth Mountain Division, United States Army from 1984-1988. James was a commando and Golden Dragon. He was one of the first soldiers to enlist in the newly reactivated Tenth Mountain Division, which was disbanded after the Second World War. His dedication to service was only surpassed by his dedication to his family. James served selflessly with his brothers in the Anti-Tank platoon as a gunner and driver. He trained as a light infantryman spending 80 percent of his enlistment outside in the field. He helped set new records for the amount of time soldiers could spend training outside away from the barracks in a single year. In Basic Training he persevered with fellow soldiers through a flash flood where the entire encampment was washed out. His peers will remember his common sense, common decency and work ethic along with his being a great role model and voice of reason. Some of James many accomplishments include earning his Airborne Wings, Air Assault Badge, becoming a Jungle expert (in the jungles of Panama) and becoming a Cold Weather light fighter (at the frozen grounds of Northern Warfare Training Center in Alaska). Throughout it all, James never forgot about his family and talked about his life growing up in Hickory often. He will be greatly missed and welcomed with open arms by his brothers into eternal life: Patrick Storms, Vince Solfest, Al Schwab, John Sandoval, Charles Waller, Tony Valencia, Robert Zavella, Randy Trunk and Ken Zumwalt.

After his service in the Army, James and Donna moved their family back to Hickory NC where he re-entered the hosiery industry working his way up from head fixer to supervisor. Outside of work he enjoyed fishing, reading, playing the guitar and singing, and artifact hunting specifically for arrowheads, pottery and other Native American pieces.

Most of all he loved being a Paw Paw to his four grandchildren and looked forward to being an “Old PawPaw” aka great grandfather.

Left with fond and precious memories are his parents James Sr and Helen Stepp of Hickory, oldest daughter: Amy Rector and Granddaughters Kayla (fiancee Tyler Phillips active duty Marine stationed at MCAS in Yuma Arizona) and Kendall Rector of Taylorsville, youngest daughter: Erin Howell (Nate) and Grandsons Ezra (Seaira) and Eden Howell of Hickory, sister: Sherri Pollock (Patrick) of Hudson and nephew Todd Philbeck Jr (Chanita) active duty Air Force stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico and their children Alyssa and Cameron, and a neice Emylee Pollock of Raleigh, brother: Andrew Stepp (Vanessa) and nephews Christian and Marcus of Conover and many more aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.