John "Jack" Nelson Evans, Jr. Retired Lt. Col. USAF

- Services for John “Jack” Nelson Evans, Jr., Lt. Colonel (Ret.), United States Air Force, age 94, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 19, 2018 at West End Cemetery with Rev. David Blagg, officiating. Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Monday, November 19, 2018 at Lacy Funeral Home.

Jack was born in Taylor, Pennsylvania, on July 8, 1924 to John Nelson Evans, Sr. and Irene (Aston) Evans. He married Janie Josephine (Daniel) Evans on October 13, 1945 in San Antonio, Texas. Josephine preceded him in death on March 6, 2014. They were married sixty-eight years and raised five children. Upon retirement from the Air Force, they settled in Craigville, New York, where they lived for thirty years. Jack and Josephine returned to Texas and resided in Stephenville where they enjoyed the companionship of Josephine’s family. In 2009, they moved to Austin, Texas, to be closer to their children.

Jack enlisted in the Air Force in 1942.  He flew 51 combat missions as a B-17 navigator with the 775th Bomb Squadron, 463rd Bomb Group in the European Theater of Operations.  Upon returning to the U.S., he completed pilot training and became a flight instructor at Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas.  During the Korean Conflict, he flew 57 missions as a T-6 reconnaissance pilot. Among his many decorations is the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters.

After his retirement from the Air Force in 1970, Jack began a civil service career with Orange County, New York, where he served in the Health Department.  He continued his lifelong love of flying by becoming a glider pilot.

Survivors include children, Laura Evans and spouse, Margot Marshall of Austin, Texas, John Evans and wife, Connie of Rohnert Park, California, Mark Evans and spouse, David Vleck of Wimberley, Texas, David Evans and wife, Debbie of Waco, Texas, Amy Niemetz and husband Michael of Cleveland, New York; a sister, Marilyn Howells of Scranton, Pennsylvania; grandchildren, Jason, Michelle, Kristen, Allison, Daniel, Brooke, Lowell, and Lela; great grandchildren, Jamie Lee, Lauren, Kamryn, Judson, Ryleigh and Caleb. 

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