Very Reverend Steven W. Sunderland, 71 of Sapphire, North Carolina died Friday, August 26, 2022 at Hickory Creek Health in Peru, Indiana. He was born in Gibson City, Illinois on March 11, 1951 to Dr. Paul W. and Mildred (Smith) Sunderland. He married Donna LeCompte on July 10, 1976; she preceded him in death on December 10, 2021.

Reverend Sunderland was very active in his church. He received his Masters in divinity from Holy Saint Orthodox Seminary. His ministry led him to churches in Texas, Michigan, and Florida. In between his church ministries he performed missionary work in Haiti. In the past few years he could often be found in Kokomo at St. Thomas the Apostle Orthodox Church.

In his younger years, Steven served his country in the United States Navy as a corpsman, a position he was very proud of fulfilling. Steven enjoyed the outdoors and nature. He and his wife enjoyed numerous communities as they traveled the countryside in their camper. They were members of the Good Sam travel club and also the Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association.

He is survived by his daughter Ginger Lovelace and significant other John Russell of Logansport, Indiana; grandchildren Audrey, Jordan, Dalton, Vann, Ollyver and Lyric. Siblings include Karen Smith and Gale Sunderland. He was preceded in death by his sister Linda Sunderland.

Funeral services are scheduled on Thursday, September 1, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Orthodox Church in Kokomo. Very Reverend Philip Lashbrook will preside. Visitation will be from 10:30 until service time Thursday at the church. Burial will occur at 4:00 p.m. Central Time Thursday at Willow Brook Cemetery in Fisher, Illinois.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle Orthodox Church, 914 W Taylor St, Kokomo, Indiana, 46901.

Young-Nichols Funeral Home in Tipton is honored to assist the Sunderland family in their time of need.