Stephen Ludley, 85, of Anamosa, died Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Pinicon Place in Anamosa.

Stephen Stuart Ludley was born January 25, 1940, in North Carolina, the son of Everett and Dorothy (Kelley) Ludley. He graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in the Class of 1957. Following graduation, he served his country in the United States Air Force. He married Bonnie Meyer on February 15, 1959, in Anderson, CA. Following his honorable discharge in 1965, the couple made their home in San Jose, CA, where he was employed at Lockhead Corporation. The couple moved to Springville in 1973 and later to Anamosa in 1975. During this time Stephen was employed at Collins in Cedar Rapids. After being laid off he went to work for American Creations until his retirement.

He enjoyed working on old radios, building computers, teaching computer science at Kirkwood Community College once a week, and fixing cars, especially his 1964 Corvair Hardtop. He also coached Little League Baseball and playing his guitar.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years Bonnie, his children Eleisha Barnett, Steve (Brenda), and James, eleven grandchildren, 16 grandchildren, and his siblings Carolyn Crawford, Mary (Gary) Dinsdale, and David (Marcia) Ludley.

Graveside Services and a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 10 am at Sand Creek Cemetery in Delaware, IA, where Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Air Force and the Anamosa Veterans Honor Guard. Please visit Goettschonline.com to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences with Stephen's family.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds---and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence: Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, the long delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.