Karl W. Stevens

Karl Wayne Stevens, 92, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on February 24, 2026 at HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, NY.

He was born on October 16, 1933 in Schulter, Oklahoma to Pauline Zaletel and Carl Eugene Stevens. Most of his mother's family migrated to the US from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the early 1900s. His father was a career Navy man that enlisted for World War I, retired in 1929, and then reactivated to serve in World War II. 

A proud US Navy Korean War veteran himself, Karl served his country for 8 years with honor and distinction, earning a Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal. His enlistment began in 1953 and included service aboard the USS Macon (CA-132) during the Korean War as a Fire Control Technician Petty Officer 1st Class, followed by time in the reserves until 1961.

After his service, Karl graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in 1963, laying the foundation for a successful career. Karl started working for IBM in 1957 and dedicated many years to IBM in Kingston, NY, where he excelled as a Senior Advisory Engineer and contributed to an advancement in data processing that earned a patent. As an IBM employee, he was one of the first purchasers of an IBM PC/XT in the very beginning of home computing and had a computer on his desk that he used almost every day up to the very end of his life.

Karl married his wife of 62 years, Winifred Lorraine Craft Rittie, in 1964 and set to work designing and building her dream home atop "the knolls" on Latham Circle where they admired sunrises and moonrises over the Hudson and sunsets over the mountains. Karl took the family on many camping trips in their Winnebago, even journeying across the country for over a month in the summer of 1977. Karl took pride in the accomplishments of his family and welcomed the hustle and bustle as everyone gathered at their home for each holiday.

After taking early retirement, Karl and Winnie spent many years managing The Well Thrift Shop on Partition Street in Saugerties. At home, he was always tinkering. You might find him working on the next project in his workshop, whether he was building something for his children or coming up with the latest invention to squirrel-proof the birdfeeder. Throughout the years, he helped fix and remodel the homes of all of his children. He kept his mind busy, writing a copyrighted logic code simulator on the computer, completing crosswords and sudoku puzzles, and sharing the Joke of the Day with his brother in Oklahoma.

Predeceased by his brother, Henry Stevens and his daughter Linda Rittie Pino, Karl's legacy is carried on by his beloved wife of 62 years, Winifred Stevens; his daughter, Carolyn (Barry) Gardner of Malden on Hudson; sons, Dean Rittie of Cementon and Darren (Diana) Stevens of Cairo; his seven grandchildren, Emily and Brenton Gardner, Jeremiah and Rhianna Stevens, Heather Rittie Hughes, Derick Rittie, and Jennifer Rittie; his great-grandchildren, Aaron Rittie ,Delaney Gibson, Aodhan and Madison Hughes, Grayson and Keegan Gardner and Violet Lorraine; and two great-great-grandchildren,  Lonnie (LJ), and Charleigh, who brought him endless pride and happiness.

His Funeral Service will be held 4:30 PM Saturday at the Seamon-Wilsey Funeral Home Inc. Cor. of John & Lafayette Streets., Saugerties. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 2 PM. Family suggests donations in his memory be made to The Well, c/o Saugerties Area Council of Churches. Interment with full military honors will be held in the Trinity Cemetery in the Spring. Please share a memory or photo in Karl’s Tribute Book at SeamonWilseyFuneralHome.com

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