William L. Evans

EVANS, WILLIAM LANE ('BILL') William Evans, 91, of Utica, MI, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, July 6, 2019. He was born on June 11, 1928 in Detroit, to Maynard and Marie (Makepeace) Evans. He married Althea Edna Schmalzriedt ('Teddy') on Nov. 26, 1946, in Detroit. As a young boy, Bill earned his tuition at New York City's famed Grace Church school by singing, recalling fondly the time his choir sang for the King & Queen of England at St. John the Divine Church in Manhattan. It was at Grace that Bill learned to play the organ and develop a deep love of the classics. Grace Church prepared him so well academically that when his family moved to Detroit, he skipped the 8th grade. While a resident in Dearborn Heights, he formed the Golfview Manor Civic Association. He earned Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Wayne State University in Detroit. He became council president of Puritan Hts. Lutheran Church. He worked at Ford Motor company as Stamping Plant Manager. He also established the UAW / University Of Michigan training center at the Ford Wixom plant. He moved to Gladwin, where he became chief of the volunteer fire department, joined the Masons, took employment as Dean of Admissions at Kirkland Community College, and established the Beaver Craft sheltered workshop / training center in Beaverton, MI. After his beloved Teddy died in Nov. 2009, he moved to the Detroit area, living in various Senior complexes until he moved into his house in Utica. He is survived by his daughter, Christine (William) Baird of Sterling Heights; son, Timothy (Mary Ann) Evans of Royal Oak; grandson, John (Jennifer) Baird of Utica; granddaughter, Rebecca (William) Konkolesky of Clawson; great-grandchildren Alexandra & Ian Konkolesky. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Maynard "Doc" Evans II; and Thomas Evans, both of who provided Bill with many wonderful nephews and nieces. Bill will be laid to rest next to his wife in Gladwin. William's family will receive friends on Monday, July 8, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a funeral service at 7:00 p.m. at the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 8459 Hall Rd. (3 blks. E. of Van Dyke), Utica, MI. Officiating the service is Deacon John Wulff. Internment will be at Edwards Township Cemetery, Gladwin, MI on Tuesday, July 9, at 1:00 pm. Please share a memory at www.SullivanFuneralDirectors.com

William L. Evans

June 11, 1928 - July 6, 2019