Evans III, Lewis Vincent

Lewis Vincent Evans III, 96, died at home in Blacksburg, on Wednesday, February 4, 2015. A native of upstate New York, he was born on January 9, 1919, in Chittenango, and was the son of Lewis Vincent Evans, Jr. and Edith Ostrander Evans.

An outstanding student, Mr. Evans graduated early from Chittenango High School and went on to study civil engineering at Syracuse University on a full academic scholarship. While in college, he played the cornet in the marching band, and he was inducted into both Chi Epsilon National Civil Engineering Honor Society and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. In 1938, at age 19, he graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse to remain a lifelong fan of the “Orange.”

Mr. Evans began his career as a cartographer for the federal government in Washington, D.C. Shortly afterward he was commissioned as an officer into the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey to serve during World War II. Following the war, he spent time in Florida, Maine, and then living on an iceberg in Alaska surveying and mapping to establish the defense boundary between the United States and the then Soviet Union. After relinquishing his commission, he remained in Washington with the USC&GS throughout its various restructurings into the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) in 1965, until it became the present day National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from which he retired in 1975.

He was interested and informed about the world, and during his later years his grandchildren were known to say they didn’t need to use Google, they could simply, “Granddad it.” He enjoyed lively conversation and friendly debate. He never turned down a request for help, and he offered valuable advice succinctly. He maintained high moral and ethical standards, which he shared as a Scout Master; he founded a troop in Centreville, Virginia, and mentored several young men, including one of his sons, on their way to becoming Eagle Scouts. He also helped design, build, and establish Annandale Congregational Church, now Little River United Church of Christ.

He was an early and committed environmentalist, and he loved all things to do with nature. He had a special place in his heart for animals, and he supported the causes that fostered their welfare. He enjoyed classical music, his morning crossword puzzle, and watching Syracuse basketball. Above all, though, he valued education. Much of his time was spent reading, and he encouraged his children and grandchildren to do the same. “If you can read, you can do anything,” were his words and his legacy.

In 1944 he married Frances Norman Johnson of Weldon, North Carolina, who preceded him in death June 1, 1984. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Edna Evans Twitchell, who died on June 15, 2000.

Surviving are two daughters, Edith Evans Burzio, Bethesda, Maryland, Londa Evans Matthews and her husband, Timothy Dale Matthews, of Blacksburg; two sons, Lewis Vincent Evans IV and his wife, Evelyn Hammel Evans, of Williamsburg, Pierce Johnson Evans, of Blacksburg; six grandchildren, Kristen Evans McAdams and her husband, Charles Hodge McAdams Jr., of Woodbridge, Ryan Pierce Evans, of Williamsburg, Elizabeth Burzio Stephens and her husband, Grant Joseph Stephens III, of Bethesda, Md., Anne Burzio Meyers and her husband, Brian John Meyers, of Sterling, William Pierce Matthews, of Arlington, Katherine Frances Matthews, of Johnson City, Tenn.; five great-grandsons, Tyler Vincent McAdams, of Woodbridge, Parker Grant Stephens, of Bethesda, Md., Braeden Sweeney McAdams, of Woodbridge, John Blake Stephens, of Bethesda, Md., Pierce William Meyers, of Sterling.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the home of Tim and Londa Matthews, 1500 Lark Lane, Blacksburg. A private memorial service will follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Book at firstbook.org, First Book, 1319 F Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20004.