- Date Of Birth: October 10, 1923
- Date Of Death: May 22, 2015
- State: Arizona
William (Bill) Evans was a 1st generation American. His father, William John Evans, immigrated from Wales in the early 1900’s. Bill’s father worked for the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad. He was always proud of the fact that they were the first family in the area to have a telephone and that despite the depression, he was able to maintain a good living for his family. Bill’s mother, Elizabeth Spalter, graduated from Emerson College in Boston, MA with a degree in Elementary School Education.
Bill married Gloria Parkins in 1948 and they had two sons – William Robert in 1949 and Kenneth David in 1953. He was predeceased by his brothers Kenneth J. in 1951 and Thomas Springer in 2013, and sisters Alberta May in 1921, Elizabeth Sue in 1987 and Sarah Evans Park in 1998. Bill is the last member of his family.
Bill had a “good, long life” as he often said and a long working life – from delivering groceries in High School to coal mining to steel working with Wheeling-Pittsburg in Allenport, PA. Periodically strikes and layoffs tested family finances. Bill always said that without Gloria’s career at Anchor Hocking, the burden would have been much greater.
In World War II he served with the coast guard from 1942 to 1946. He was at Normandy Beach on D Day then onto the Pacific. Here, though not confirmed since it was TOP Secret, he always believed his ship took the Enola Gay crew to Tinian.
Bill was a proud, 32nd Degree Mason: member of Lodge 0252 in Pennsylvania from 1953 to the present, a member of the American Legion Post 484 in Fayette City, PA and was a member of the Shriners International.
Upon his retirement Bill and Gloria spent several winters in Scottsdale and decided to permanently relocate in 1995, being very happy here.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Gloria, his son William R. and daughter-in-law Wanda and his son Kenneth David.
