Stephen Chobanian

Stephen Nazareth Chobanian, 75, of Disputanta, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2009 at Chippenham Medical Center. He was the son of the late Eghia and Julia Repak Chobanian, and was preceded in death by a daughter, Julie Lynn Chobanian, and two brothers, Nazareth Chobanian, and Anthony Chobanian. He retired after 22 years of service as a CWO-4 with the United States Army having served during the Vietnam and Korean Conflicts. He retired after 21 years of Civil Service at Fort Lee, Virginia where he was very active with the Quartermaster Foundation. He volunteered many hours with the Quartermaster Museum and Foundation. CW4 Stephen N. Chobanian enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953 and was commissioned as a warrant officer in 1961. He earned a reputation as one of the premiere trainers of Quartermasters worldwide during his more than 20 years of active duty service. He continued his role as a principal educator and leader to the Quartermaster Corps with his numerous accomplishments as a civil servant. Chobanian was a major contributor to the development and adoption of significant improvements to the Army supply system, promoting efficiency, enhancing troop support and standardizing supply accountability. He has been recognized as a Total Army supply management educator, training thousands of supply technicians and managers throughout the U.S. Army and the international military community. His excellence has earned him an unprecedented four awards of "Quartermaster School Distinguished Instructor." Mr. Chobanian was a member of Highland United Methodist Church, Colonial Heights and the Fort Lee Retired Officers Club. He is survived by his wife, Gladys Chobanian; children, Stephen Anthony Chobanian and wife, Dotty, and Laurie Gene Chobanian; grandchildren, Stephen Charles Chobanian, Stephanie Marie Chobanian, and Ashley Nicole Thomasson; brothers and sisters, Susan Halupa, Mary Chobanian, Jack (Paul) Chobanian, Elizabeth Sosigian, Pauline Gruber, Mathew Chobanian, William Chobanian, and Julie Colpo. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 12, 2009 in Highland United Methodist Church, 125 E. Westover Avenue with the Reverend Keith Ritchie and the Reverend William Rawlings officiating. Interment Southlawn Memorial Park, Prince George. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Army Quartermaster Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box A, Fort Lee, Virginia 23801.