Willard Charles “Bill” Evans was born to Antoinette (nee Korous) and Morton Evans in Spokane, Washington in 1930, the dawn of the Great Depression. He joined an older sister, Margaret. These two would have a close and loving relationship through out their lives.
The Evans family worked hard to make ends meet in those years, even helping with the harvest in addition to Morton’s work as a coal deliveryman. Sadly, Morton died of “coal lung” when Bill was only 5 years old.
Well-loved by his mother, sister, extended family and playmates, Bill excelled in academics, art and sports, and was captain of the football team at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington, where he also served as student body president.
Upon high school graduation, Bill proudly joined the U.S. Marines, accompanied by his best friend. After bootcamp, he was lucky enough to be stationed in San Francisco before serving in the Korean War. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. During his military time, he married Patsy Jo McKinny, and the couple had two daughters, Angela and Vicki. Bill’s youngest daughter, Pamela was born in Portland, where the family settled after his military service. Bill earned a B.S. Degree at Gonzaga University, then studied dentistry at Oregon State University while working full time for the Carnation company.
In 1958 Bill married Betty Roberts (nee Ingraham), and their son Thomas was born in 1962, By 1963, all three of Bill’s daughters, Betty’s daughter Tracey, and baby brother Tommy were living together in San Bernardino, California. Bill worked in the building materials industry for several years, later starting his own company, Diversified Building Materials, with friend and partner Gene Hlavaty.
By 1966, Bill had been recruited back into the dental industry and in 1968 received a job offer he couldn’t refuse in San Francisco. The family moved to San Jose, and Bill managed branch offices for Edwards Dental and Codesco Dental Supply throughout the Bay Area. At Codesco, he met Carla Maxfield (nee Schlenvogt) and they were married in 1981. Bill became “Dad” to Carla’s daughters Gwen and Krista. In 1982, Bill and his two company friends started their own dental equipment sales company, EFG Dental Equipment Sales, which later became EFG Dental Supply Company, as dental consumable supplies were added to their sales inventory. After selling their business to Sullivan Dental Supply, Bill continued as a dental equipment salesperson, and excelled over the years with his creative dental office designs built in the Bay Area. He finished his career with a flourish, traveling to Asia as a special consultant to two American-educated Chinese businesswomen. Bill retired at 70 years of age.
Bill was a model of hard work and community leadership to his children, serving as homeowners association president, baseball coach, Boy Scout leader, and Lions Club member and President. His kids enjoyed working alongside their dad in the yard, on household fix-it projects, and even accompanying him on work days from time to time – all this before “Take Your Child to Work Day” became popular. His tradition of telling bedtime “Froggy Woggy” stories began in those years. The “Froggy” character was Bill’s own creation, and each story was spontaneous and original.
As a grandfather, perhaps he is most remembered by his grandchildren for gathering them around at every opportunity and telling newly created “Froggy Woggy” tales. The story lines always included each child present at the time.
Carla and Bill spent many happy years running their businesses, traveling the world, and spending time with friends and family. Both of them focused on traveling during Bill’s seventies. They frequently included family members, and traveled with friends. Some highlights of their travels were trips to Branson, Missouri to enjoy the music, and to Sedona, Arizona enjoying the scenery and history there. They have cruised to the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, the Mediterranean, and the Baltic and enjoyed every minute.
Bill is remembered by his family and friends as being warm, inviting, and personable. He loved people and enjoyed many. He particularly enjoyed spending time with family, even during his later stages of dementia. Bill always loved to see his family, especially Carla and never missed a moment to express his love.
In the last twelve years of his life, Bill struggled with Alzheimer’s Disease, and succumbed on April 22, 2024 at home with his wife and several family members. Neurologists suspected brain injuries due to concussions when playing football in high school and in the Marine Corp. He remained grateful to his wife and caregivers each and every day.
His Celebration of Life Memorial will be on June 28, 2024 at 10:30 am at The Villages Clubhouse in San Jose.
Any donations may be sent in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://act.alz.org.
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