Evans Sr., Edward Burton

Mr. Edward Burton Evans Sr., 87, formerly of Blacksburg, passed away March 19, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas, after a brief struggle with cancer. Born September 25, 1924, at Stuarts Circle Hospital in Richmond, Ed grew up in a loving family and attended John Marshall High School where he was a member of the Cadet Corp attaining the highest rank of First Captain his senior year. In 1941, he entered Washington and Lee University in Lexington, becoming a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. Like so many of the “Greatest Generation”, his college career was put on hold when the United States entered World War II and he volunteered for service in the United States Army. Trained as a Spanish Interpreter in the Army Specialized Training Program at Amherst College in March 1944, he served in the European Theatre (1st BAT, 310th INF REG, of the 78th INF DIV) until his discharge in 1946. While under the command of the “Lightning” Division, Ed saw action in France, Holland, and Belgium where he advanced on the flank of Patton’s Third Army in the fierce fight for Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge. His unit moved on to further action in the defense and crossing of the Ludendorff Bridge on the Rhine River at Remagen. He continued through the Ruhr Pocket, ultimately marching into Berlin for the occupation and implementation of the Marshall Plan. Ed was forever struck by the inhumanity of war and the visions of forced labor camps encountered and freed. He continued his service through the Army Reserves, finally discharged as a First Sergeant in 1950. Ed returned to W&L to complete his education, graduating in 1948, with a B.S. in Business Administration and then joining the management team as a firm analyst at Miller and Rhodes Department Store in Richmond. In 1955, after working for the State Division of Personnel, he accepted the position of Director of Personnel at V.P.I & S.U. Additionally, Ed served under four administrations as the Business Manager, Director of Student Accounts and Receivables, and finally as head of Risk Management when he retired in 1986. In the spirit of ‘Ut Prosim” Ed’s style was his service to others, serving on the Board of Directors of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of S.W. Va., as a Director on the Board of the National Bank of Blacksburg, helping plan the Mount Tabor Nursery School and the Blacksburg Branch Library, and helping to implement the Virginia Community College system. Even in retirement in Fort Worth, he remained in service, volunteering passionately at Harris United Methodist Hospital, contributing to the Carter Blood Center and also was a dedicated member of the Administrative Board of the University United Methodist Church. Ed was a devoted father and husband, who loved, supported and cherished his family throughout his life. For seven years, he managed the family household and raised his children while his first wife, Betty Mae, was tragically affected by the disease we now know as Alzheimers. Upon her death Ed remarried and retired to Fort Worth, finding renewed love and joy for 24 years with his second wife, Helen Loreta Combs. They traveled the country for 13 years in a motor home, tasting life robustly and making friends wherever they roamed. Survivors include his sister, Peggy Johnson; daughter, Mary Evans Arnold; sons, Edward B. Evans Jr. and wife, Jane, and Waverly Childs Evans and wife, Nancy, all currently residing in Virginia; stepson, Travis D. Morris and wife, Elizabeth, residing in Cleburn, Texas; grandchildren, Lauren, Ellen, Annie, Alaina and Reece, all in Virginia. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5, 2012, at Blacksburg United Methodist Church. The family requests that donations be made in Ed’s honor to the Harris United Methodist Hospital Fort Worth Auxiliary.