Kenneth Gardner Evans, Sr.
8/21/2014
Kenneth G. “Shorty” Evans Sr., a longtime resident of Warwick, passed away on 21 August, 2014 at Schervier Pavilion. He was 94.
He was born on 19 March, 1920 to Chester and Lena Ayotte Evans in Springfield, New Hampshire.
He was moved to a farm on Wawayanda Mountain, South of Warwick when he was ten years old, where he attended Highland Lakes Schools through the tenth grade. When he was 18, he went to work on a local farm for $20 per month and room and board. He later bought his first used car for $28. He worked on the farm until he was drafted into the Army in June 1942.
During World War II, Kenneth served as a Military Policeman in both the North Africa and the Philippine theaters. He received a bayonet wound during his service in North Africa. During his service, he received the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon. Kenneth was honorably discharged in September 1945.
Following his discharge, he worked for 34 years at Chester Cable, a wire and cable manufacturing company in Chester, N.Y. He started as a wire extruder machine operator and was quickly promoted to foreman of the extrusion department.
He was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Stasia Royce Evans and his wife of 12 years, Grace Kennedy Evans and his two brothers, Herbert and Dyer Evans. He is survived by his children, Kenneth Jr. and Dolores Evans of Warwick, Robert Allen and Suzanne Evans of Moberly, Missouri, Brenda and Curt Ducommun of Sunset Beach, North Carolina; several nieces and nephews; eight grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
Kenneth was a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4662, the American Legion Post 214, and the Hook and Ladder volunteer fire company, all of Warwick. He regularly attended the Warwick Christ Episcopal Church and at various times was very active in church programs.
The family expresses their sincere thank you to all of the staff at the Schervier Pavilion for their dedication to him and all of their residents. He commented many times that their smiling faces uplifted him and brought joy to his day.
Visitation will be 7:00 – 9:00 pm Friday, 22 August, at the Lazear-Smith & Vander Platt Funeral Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick. The funeral services will start at 11:00 am Saturday, 23 August and move to the Warwick Cemetery, where he will receive military honors.
In lieu of flowers, it is asked that contributions be made in his name to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4662 or American Legion Post 214, both of Warwick, NY.
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