William R. “Bill” Evans, 78, of Wabash, Indiana, died at 5:30 am, Monday, February 18, 2019 at Wesleyan Healthcare in Marion. He was born March 29, 1940 in Wabash, to Walter W. Evans and Lula Mae (Ward) Hartsell.
Bill was a 1958 graduate of Wabash High School. He was a US Air Force and US Army veteran, serving in Vietnam. He married Mary E. Kendall in Watseka, Illinois on September 13, 1974. He was a retired Wabash City Fireman, serving from 1969-1988. Bill was a member of the Wabash FOP, VFW Post 286, American Legion Post 15, a past squadron commander of the Civil Air Patrol, the Wabash Valley Retired Police-Fireman, and a former member of the Hanna Masonic Lodge. He served on the Wabash County Liquor Board, the Wabash City Traffic Commission, and the Wabash County Selective Service Board. He was a master woodworker and craftsman, and collected fire department memorabilia.
He is survived by his wife, Mary E. Evans of Wabash; two sons, John (Keri) Evans of Peru, Indiana, and Brian (Janet) Evans of Lagro, Indiana; seven grandchildren, Madyson Evans of Wabash, Layne Evans of Lagro, Natalie (Chris) Gibson of Wabash, Nicole Lewis of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Daryn Yentes of Nashville, Tennessee, Morgan Evans of Peru, and Lyndsie (Brian) Garrett of Birmingham, Alabama; five great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters, Jerry (Shelby) Gray of Ward, Arkansas, Barbara (Roy) Green of Austin, Arkansas, Vicki (Bob) King of Port Charlotte, Florida, and Terry (Tonnie) Evans of Wabash. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, James Corbin Evans, and two sisters, Marjorie Tolley and Ruth Ellen Brown.
Funeral services will be 2pm Thursday, February 21, 2019 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, with Pastor John Cook officiating. Burial will be in Falls Cemetery, Wabash. Friends may call 4-8pm Wednesday, and one hour prior to the service Thursday, at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Wabash Fire Department.
The memorial guest book for Bill may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.