Lieutenant Colonel, Naval Officer and Optometrist, Dr. James Edgar Evans, age 70 of Jackson, passed away Friday morning, October 16, 2015, at the Kobacker House in Columbus, Ohio. He was born January 11, 1945 in Columbus, Ohio to the late Addison Victor Evans and Mary Morgan Evans. Ed attended Wellston High School and was a 1962 graduate of Culver Military Academy. He was a graduate of Ohio University in 1966, where he was a member of Beta Theta Phi Fraternity and graduated with an A.B. in Zoology. In October of the same year, he entered The Ohio State University College of Optometry, where he was a member of the Epsilon Psi Epsilon Professional Fraternity, and was awarded the Doctor of Optometry degree in June 1970.
Dr. Evans was a veteran of the United States Navy, for which he served 4 years, and the Ohio Air National Guard, from which he retired in 2005 with 34 years of dedicated service. He was a well-known optometrist in Jackson and Vinton counties for the past four decades.
During that time, Dr. Evans was active in his community, including being appointed to the Board of Directors of the Milton Banking Company; serving as an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Wellston; and being a member of the Black Diamond Lodge #538 F&AM; Aladdin Shriners; Wellston Chamber of Commerce; Wellston Rotary Club; Wellston Lions Club; American Legion Post 371 of Wellston; Elks Lodge in Jackson and the Fairgreens Country Club. In his spare time, Dr. Evans enjoyed golfing and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes.
He is survived by his children, Brian Holmgren Evans, Regin Addison Evans and Meghan Lynn Evans; grandchildren, Arianna Paige Webb, Braden James Evans, Lily Marie Rorher, Addison Lynn Evans and Kinzie Lee Evans, as well as several cousins and close friends.
Calling hours will be Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home in Wellston, where a Masonic service will follow. Funeral service will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Wellston with John Pelletier, CLP officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be in the Ridgewood Cemetery.
For those who wish, memorial contributions in Dr. Evans’ name can be given to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children; 3229 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229. Online condolences can be given to the family at www.mcwilliams-funeralhome.com