Stephen Lawrence Main Obituary

Stephen Lawrence Main, known to most as Steve, believed that you should work hard, play hard, wear a good hat and drink good scotch. He lived a life that exemplified those beliefs.

Born to the late Lawrence Elwyn Main and Anne Rita (Burke) on March 4th, 1947, in Lompoc, California, he was a studious child taking Latin and German in school and often kept out of trouble by being the peacemaker to his 3 siblings. In 1965 he graduated from Porterville Union Highschool in Porterville, CA. Never one to sit still, Steve started driving a school bus shortly after graduating, and where he fortuitously met his future wife, Alberta Grimsley.

Fascinated by technology, he moved to San Francisco to attend a local technical college and was one of the first to graduate with a computer programming degree. After graduation, Steve married Alberta in 1970 and moved to Tulare, CA where he did groundbreaking work for Dairyman's Cooperative Creamer Association. Many newspaper articles were written about his work creating computer programs that automated feeding and milking schedules for dairy farm equipment.

Steve and Alberta went on to have three sons, Michael J. Main, Lawrence A. Main, and Brandon R. Main. In 1981, he and his family moved to Bakersfield, CA where he worked at Hopper Steel. There, Steve was known for running marathons, biking, and having a beer with the local parish priest.

Air Liquide purchased Hopper Steel and transferred Steve to Houston, Texas in 1994 after 4 years of working in the San Francisco Bay Area. In Houston he continued his love for outdoor activities and made many friends at work and through biking groups. He also remained Alberta's faithful and loving husband until her passing in 1999.

While in Houston, Steve developed a love for good scotch and country western dancing. He could often be found at one of the many local dance halls wearing his cowboy hat and boots – both for which he became well known. He met Linda Prophater while out dancing one night and married her a little over a year later in 2005. With this union Steve was also gifted two stepchildren, Richard and Julie.

Steve retired from Air Liquide in 2012 to lead a life of adventure and travel, delighting Linda with trips to 42 states and 36 countries. His wanderlust for the world led them on many memorial vacations, including his favorites of Alaska, Budapest, Italy and Ireland.

Steve was a devoted husband who believed working hard and playing harder. He was smart, good with numbers and loved his Houston Astros. He was often described as larger than life, kind, generous, and fun to be around. He had a meticulous nature and lived life to the fullest. He enjoyed music, dancing, reading, talking current events or politics, and spending time with friends. When asked, he said he was the most proud of his sons and the men they had become.

Steve passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 7, 2025, the same day his father was born 118 years earlier in 1917. He will be greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence Elwyn Main and Anne Rita (Burke), his two younger brothers Dennis Main, and Kevin Main, his first wife Alberta Grimsley Main, and his stepdaughter Julie M. Prophater-Hoffman.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Main; his sister, Kathy Takacs (Main); his brother-in-law, Richard Takacs; his sons, Michael J. Main, Lawrence A. Main, Brandon R. Main; his stepson, Richard R. Prophater; and his daughter-in-law, Ada Main (Burch)