Jeffrey Lawson Stine

Jeffrey "Jeff" Lawson Stine, age 77, of Florence, Kentucky passed away on Sunday, June 21, 2026.

Memorial Service will be 11:00 am Thursday, July 30, 2026, with a visitation from 10:00 am - 11:00 am at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions - Northern Kentucky Chapel, 4350 Dixie Highway, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, 1750 Radford Blvd. Pensacola, FL 32508

The Life and Great Adventures of Jeff Stine

Jeff, call sign “Fingers”, Stine, was a quiet man of profound influence. His heart's desire was that the work he did would speak for him.

It has.

Jeff was a son of a career army officer who served in World War II and Korea. He was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky, in January 1949. From Jeff's birth, he traveled from Kentucky to Virginia, to Hawaii, and back to Virginia, where he met Patty Kelley in their high school French class in 1965. Jeff continued traveling to Pennsylvania and graduated from Nuremberg American High School while his dad was stationed in Germany.

Jeff never did anything in a small way.

It was in Germany around the age of 19, when Jeff made two intentional decisions: he chose to confirm his infant baptism by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord publicly at his youth church; and he made a decision to live life to its fullest with no fear while skiing the slopes in Germany.

In 1967, it was back to Virginia, where he entered the University of Virginia and re-met Patty a year later. Jeff graduated simultaneously with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and was commissioned as a naval officer on June 3, 1972. Jeff and Patty were married one week later. With stars in their eyes, Jeff and Patty drove to Pensacola, Florida in their brand new hot, “Charger car”. Once in Pensacola, Jeff completed flight training and earned his cherished pilot wings along with the Master of Science in Aeronautical Systems from the University of West Florida in February 1974.

Jeff’s first assignment was with the Naval Command System Support Activity in Washington, DC, for the Worldwide Military Community Control System. His second duty orders sent him to Fleet Composite Squadron SEVEN in San Diego, California, in October 1977.

By June of 1980, Jeff began his transition to the Grumman A-6 Intruder, and the all-weather attack mission operating out of Whidby Island, Washington state. Although he dearly loved the sleek A-4 Skyhawk, Jeff mastered the larger A-6 Intruder. He deployed with Attack Squadron One Nine Six in 1983, while his first daughter, Jenn, was born at Whidby Island. He also made a deployment with Attack squadron Five Two, and he was a flight instructor in VA-128. Jeff did his final A-6 deployment as XO to Attack Squadron 145 in 1987. Later that fall, Jeff began his studies at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated a year later, heading to the Philippines with his second newborn daughter, Susan, and family in tow.

In January 1989, Jeff joined Fleet Composite Squadron Five, as executive officer and became commanding officer in June 1990. The life-changing eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines, occurred on June 15, 1991. This devastating and destructive event occurred on “Jeff's watch” as commanding officer. The VC-5 squadron provided an impressive list of services throughout the Western Pacific in general. At the time of Mount Pinatubo’s fury, VC-5, heroically served the desperate needs of many while flying in the face of tremendous adverse conditions.

After returning from the Philippines, Jeff retired from Carrier Air Wing SEVEN and the Navy in June 1994. Jeff spent 22 years flying for the Navy and then shifted to 22 years of flying regional jets. He eventually declared final retirement from NetJets out of Columbus, Ohio, in 2016. Although Jeff had thousands of hours of flight time, his proudest flight log entries were his 200 hours of night carrier landings. His proudest career record was serving his country as a naval aviator and officer.

And then there were the great Family adventures: sailing, horseback riding, woodworking, scuba diving, pistol and long gun experiences, and great hunting trips…from country to country and coast to coast. Although Jeff's retirement years were tough for health reasons, he intentionally chose to keep making new memories and to keep enjoying the loved ones around him. His favorite recent events were the VA-196 Reunion in Pensacola, Florida, and the Owensboro, Kentucky Blue Angel Air Show.

Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Patty and their children, Jennifer Stine and Susan (Steven) Upchurch with two loving grandchildren. Jeff is also survived by his younger brother Greg (Julie) Stine and their children Sara (Donnie) Haine, Tiffany (John) Walters, and Ryan Aldred as well as ten wonderful grand nieces and nephews. Jeff was preceded in death by his parents Harlan and Frances Corsa Stine.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

To share a memory of Jeffrey or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guest book below.