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Donald E. Evans

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Portrait of a man under a U.S. flag graphic with the word Veteran at the top.
Don Evans

Donald Eugene Evans, aged 92, went to be with his Saviour at 11:22 AM on April 19, 2026, at Dayton, Ohio, in the presence of his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene M. and Anna J. Evans, his siblings Bill (Harriett) Evans, Connie (Bill) Hamilton, and Mike (Irene) Evans.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nance S. Evans, his children Eugene Evans and Anna Evans, grandsons David Evans, Caleb Evans and Joshua Evans, daughter-in-law Krista Evans, sisters-in-law Harriet (Chaney) Evans and Irene (Wallace) Evans, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 29th at Northwest Chapel, 6700 Rings Rd., Dublin, Ohio. Visitation will be at 12pm and Pastor Martin Guerena will officiate the service at 1pm.

Dad was born May 31, 1933, in New Cumberland, Hancock County, West Virginia, to Eugene Marquette and Anna J. (Gardy[a]n) Evans. He was the second of four children (William, Donald, Connie, and Michael). The family lived in New Cumberland, Hancock County, WV, Warwood, Ohio County, WV, the tiny crossroads of Unionvale, Harrison County, OH, and Cadiz, Harrison County, OH.

Dad graduated from Cadiz High School in 1951. After high school, dad worked for the FBI in Washington D.C., served with the United States Marine Corps, worked in the coal fields, and met his sweetheart Nance Sheriff, whom he married in 1961. Dad and Mom moved to Columbus, and in 1962 Dad started his career in packaging engineering with Ross Laboratories (a division of Abbott Labs) in Columbus. While working full time, he earned a B. Sc. in Industrial Production from the Ohio State University.

After eight years with Ross, He left the corporate world and hung his own shingle, advertising "...the unusual services of Don Evans & Associates, specialists in Packaging and Production Systems." God blessed the venture, and the business provided for our family for over 20 years. Dad had a unique combination of experience, mechanical acumen, practical imagination, organizational skills, and an ability to win over and work with people at all levels. Many a business relationship also became a friendship. Dad was a prolific generator of ideas, a number of which he patented. He designed and had fabricated a wide variety of conveyors and special machinery. In addition to packaging and production equipment, he ventured into other areas of interest such as solar heating systems. Over the years he also spent much time and effort repairing or improving various properties with and for other family members. We have fond memories of summers in Cadiz working on the Evans and Sheriff homesteads. Upon "retirement", he continued that habit and seemed to always be building or renovating a property somewhere.

Dad was very busy and frequently traveled. When we kids were young, Mom would often wake us up and pack us in the car to either take Dad to or pick him up from the airport. As much as dad was away on business, he somehow managed to find time to spend with us. We went on many memorable family vacations - to Michigan, New England, the Blueridge, the Smokies, Texas, Arkansas, and Florida, among other places. Another way he made time for his family was to take us along on his business trips. These took us to Virginia, North Carolina, Oshkosh, WI, and out west to Los Angeles. Later, he and Mom would take the grandsons on cross country road trips throughout the west. Many a fond memory was made.

Most significantly, Dad and Mom in the early years of their marriage, and by God's grace, aware of their own human frailties and sin, put their trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 13:38), reconciliation with the Father (Jn. 14:6) , and the free gift of everlasting life (Jn. 3:16). This more than anything else, set the table for our family, and has made all the difference for each of us.

Dad strove to follow Christ, modeled Christ for us in the home, and raised us in regular fellowship with the a church family that walked life together with us. Over the years, Dad and Mom were part of three local churches in the Columbus area. They began at Upper Arlington Church of Christ where they heard the gospel message clearly preached. They later joined Maranatha Baptist Church on the west side where our family was solidly grounded in the faith. When their nest was empty, they joined Northwest Chapel in Dublin where they've been loved and cared for in their later years. God has used each of these local churches to give them opportunity to serve, mature in their faith, and produce fruit in their lives. Many dear and lasting relationships have been formed with fellow believers in these congregations.

Dad is sorely missed; The sorrow of our parting is heavy. But we also know that because God keeps his promises, we have a sure and certain hope that we will not be parted from Dad forever. We will be reunited in the presence of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has gone to prepare a place for us, and will come again to receive us to himself, that where he is, there we may be also. Dad's prayer is (not would be, but is) that if you have not yet accepted God's offer, you will do so today.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

Maranatha!

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