Stephen L. Lunsford

Stephen L. Lunsford, 70, of Elk Grove, California, passed away on May 15, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Stephen was born on April 21, 1956, in Moscow, Idaho, to Jesse Vernon Lunsford and Winnie Florene (Jones) Lunsford. He graduated from Las Cruces High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1974 and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from New Mexico State University.

Stephen began his career as an Operator I & II at White Sands Missile Range, loading test rocket telemetry data into computer systems. He advanced to Lead Systems Engineer at Electronic Data Systems (EDS), supporting a broad range of government benefit programs. He concluded his career as a Senior Analyst for the County of Sacramento, where he contributed to utility billing and payroll management systems.

On May 14, 1983, Stephen married the love of his life, Mary Frances Kasunic, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and shared devotion that spanned more than four decades.

Stephen had a lifelong love of music, and in his youth, performed with the bands April, Spectrum, Levi Rise, and Foxx. He was an avid reader with a deep curiosity about world history. He also found great joy in long walks and the quiet beauty of the natural world.

Cherished for his charming smile and compassionate heart, Stephen moved through the world with a quiet peace and lighthearted spirit, ever eager to strike up a playful conversation with a new face and share his signature dry sarcastic humor.

Stephen was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Winnie Lunsford, and by his siblings Faye Lunsford Hill, Wayne Lunsford, and Richard “Dick” Lunsford.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Mary; his sons Jared and Landon; his daughter-in-law Yumi Sato Lunsford; and his cherished grandson, Sage. He is also survived by his brother Doug Lunsford (Wendy) of Roswell, New Mexico, and his sister Cynthia Lunsford Porter (John) of Eagle Point, Oregon.

A funeral mass will be held for Stephen Lunsford at St. Joseph Church, Elk Grove, CA on June 17, 2026.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Stephen’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2710 South Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95833 or online at alz.org (Give in Honor or Memory Tab).