Herbert Floyd Evans

On January 17, 1925, Herbert Floyd Evans was born to Hoyt and Elva Evans, the third of what would be six children. The family was poor but sustained by the love that they had for God and for one another. Herbert spent his childhood and youth in and around Dogtown, attending Ruhama Missionary Baptist Church and Ruhama School. He loved basketball and chose to repeat ninth grade so he could play one more year at Ruhama. Herbert was 17 when Pearl Harbor was attacked, bringing the United States fully into World War II in the Pacific Theater. He was concerned that the war would be over before he was old enough to enlist. As history would show, however, there was plenty of time. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on April 23, 1943, and served the majority of his duty in the South Pacific in the 24th Corps, U.S. 10th Army. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Battle Stars, Sharpshooter, Marksman and Meritorious Unit Citation, among others. He returned home to Fort Payne on January 10, 1946. Herbert’s service in the military would mark his life indelibly, as it did for so many of the Greatest Generation. The next indelible mark made on Herbert’s life was Virginia Louise Harper. After arriving home in 1945, he went to Elmore’s 5-and-10-cent-store. He didn’t go there to purchase anything, but to see the young woman who worked there, whom he had grown up with and had been corresponding with throughout the War. Thus began a courtship that would lead to marriage that following March 30, 1946. Had Herbert lived, they would have celebrated together their 64th anniversary this year. Shortly after they were married, Herbert gave his life to Christ and the most indelible mark was made. He served God faithfully throughout his life, in service to his church and his community, and by the way he lived his life and conducted his affairs. Herbert would have delighted in raising boys, but God had other plans and instead Brenda and DiAnne were born. They came bringing pigtails and dolls, teaching him that raising girls was good, too. Herbert was a farmer at heart, loving the way the earth responded when he carefully tilled, planted, prayed and harvested. He found, though, that to earn a steady living he needed to do something different, so for the next 45-50 years he worked in construction. He worked on the Savannah River Dam project, built numerous private and government buildings and was superintendent over the extensive remodel projects of Tri-County and Erlanger Hospitals in Chattanooga. Even after he retired, he was sought out to oversee the construction of Wills Valley Elementary School, a state-of-the-art school that he was very proud to be associated with. After retirement he embraced the farmer within him once more. He had a plot out on Lookout Mountain and a good-sized garden at home. He and Virginia took their bounty to the Farmer’s Market each Tuesday and Friday morning, where he held a good reputation for having beautiful tomatoes, green beans, corn, butterbeans, okra, peas, potatoes. He continued that tradition up until recent years. Herbert Evans was a good man. A man who made an indelible mark on those he came in contact with. An honest man that people were proud to call their friend, and that family was proud to call devoted Husband, Daddy, Granddaddy, Doondaddy, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, Kemosabe. Herbert died on March 29, 2010, in Chattanooga, Tenn.. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Virginia Harper Evans; daughters and sons-in-law Brenda and Robert Madsen of Huntington Beach, Calif., and DiAnne and Robert Callahan of Fort Payne; sisters Edna Milling of Hixon, Tenn., and Faye Brown of Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Nancy Lanier, Robyn Baran, Carole Palmer, Erik Madsen and Jennie Callahan; and six great-grandchildren, Graham and Matt Palmer, Zachary and Ryan Baran, and Kaden and Callie Lanier. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 1, at Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with burial following at Walkers Chapel Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, March 31, from 4 to 8 p.m. Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements; an online guestbook is available at www.wilsonfhinc.com.

Herbert Floyd Evans

January 17, 1925 - March 29, 2010