VANMETER STEPHEN D

LTC Stephen "Steve" D. VanMeter was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 07/21/2022 at the age of 81.4
Clarksville, TN
Flight Classes 67-16 and 67-14
Date of Birth 02/16/1941
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 68 AVN in 67-68, 219 AVN in 70-71
Call signs in Vietnam TOP TIGER, HEADHUNTER
This information was provided by Obit

More detail on this person: LTC (Ret) Stephen D. VanMeter, age 81, of North Las Vegas, NV, formerly of Clarksville, TN, passed away Thursday, morning, July 21, 2022, while visiting Fort Drum, NY. He was born February 16, 1941, in Henderson, KY, to the late Ruth D. and Oliver VanMeter of Henderson, KY. A 1959 graduate of Henderson (City) High School, Stephen attended Murray State University and Western Kentucky University where he received a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Military Science. Stephen started his military career in the Marine Reserves right out of high school. He transferred to the Army where he attended Officer Candidate School and flight school. He served two tours in Vietnam as a dual rate pilot for both fixed wing and rotary wing aircrafts and has traveled all over the world. He retired from the Army in 1992; worked with military contracts as a QA for flight simulators; and taught high school JROTC. Stephen and his wife, Holly A., lived in Clarksville from 2002 until 2019 when they moved to North Las Vegas to allow their daughter to care for them. Holly passed in February of 2021. Survivors include: his sons Mark T. VanMeter of Eddyville, KY; CW5 James O. VanMeter (Lynn) of Ft Drum, NY; and Paul M. VanMeter (Krystal) of Marlborough CT; his daughters Angelika VanMeter Garner (Kurt) of Kuttawa, KY; and Kristina VanMeter Willis of North Las Vegas, NV. Also surviving Stephen are his sisters: Gwenda Chesser of Henderson, KY; Virginia Greenwell of Henderson, KY; and Olivia Kay Landrum (Scott) of Weatherford, TX; as well as grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, Stephen is preceded in death by his brother Allan R. VanMeter and grandson Jackson Willis. Viewing is planned for Friday, 29 July 2022, at 0900 with services to follow at 1000 at Gateway Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 335 Franklin Street, Clarksville, Tennessee, 37040. Phone 931-919-2600. The burial will follow the service at the Kentucky Veteran's Cemetery West, at 1200, 5817 Fort Campbell BLVD, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, 42240.

Burial information: Kentucky Veteran's Cemetery West, Hopkinsville, Kentucky

This information was last updated 09/12/2022

Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters

Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list

Return to VHPA web site

Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025