BANGOR – Lt. Col. James W. Evans, 85, passed away July 22, 2009, with his family at his side, at Maine Veterans’ Home, Bangor. Jim was born Jan. 20, 1924, in Elmira, N.Y., to James and Orrilla (Daniels) Evans. He joined the Air Force in 1942 and flew World War II combat missions with the 8th Air Force as a bombardier. In 1943, he was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for meritorious service. He met and married his wife, Louise H. Woeppel of Corning, N.Y., in 1952. In 1966, Jim served in the Vietnam War and finished his Air Force career as a radio intercept officer on several fighter aircraft. After his Air Force retirement, he joined the Bangor High School faculty as an industrial art instructor. Jim was a member of Penobscot Bay Power Squadron and Maine Air Museum. Surviving, in addition to his wife of 57 years, Louise H. Evans; are seven children, Gerald Grigsby and his wife, Susan, of Orono, Mary Lee Grigsby of Burlington, Vt., Ann Martin and her husband, Fred, of Corning, N.Y., Joyce Robertson of Burlington, Vt., Mark Evans and his wife, Bunny, of Waldo, David Evans of Washington, D.C., and Tom Evans and his wife, Marilyn, of Lafayette, Colo.; eight grandchildren, Brian and Stephen Grigsby, Leanne Grigsby, Jennifer and John Joseph, Lori and Tracy Evans, and Cullen Robertson; one great-grandson, Edward Grigsby; one brother, Lloyd Evans and his wife, Duree, of Geneva, N.Y.; one sister, Thora Smerdon and her husband, Emory, of Corning, N.Y.; several nieces and nephews. Jim was predeceased by his parents; and two brothers, Franklin and Leonard T. Evans. The family thanks the staff of Maine Veterans’ Home C Unit, Bangor; the caring aides from Loving Touch and special thanks for the personal attention given to Jim by Karla Nason. A gathering to celebrate Jim’s life will be held 1-3 p.m. Monday, July 27, at Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor. Private interment will be at Maine Veterans’ Cemetery, Augusta. Those who wish to remember Jim in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Maine Veterans’ Home, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
LT. COL. JAMES W. EVANS U.S. AIR FORCE, RETIRED
