Willard Dye (W.D.) Evans, Sr., 85, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2014, after a prolonged illness. He was born on July 11, 1929, in Kingstree, SC to John Workman Evans, Sr. and Trent Dye Evans.
W.D. grew up in Kingstree, South Carolina. He graduated from Kingstree High School in 1946. He then graduated from Clemson College in Clemson, SC where he received a B.S. in agronomy. W.D. Evans served during the Korean War with the Regimental Tank Company, 279th Infantry, 45th Division in 1952, where he was a first lieutenant and tank commander, and he received a Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, a United Nations Service Medal, and a Bronze Star Medal. Upon his return, W.D. worked in the roofing business with his father.  In 1965, he expanded by forming one of the first clear liquid fertilizer plants in SC in 1965. In 1977, it became W.D. Evans and Son and was operated by W.D. and David Evans until 2000. W.D Evans was a charter member of the Kingstree Men’s Prayer Breakfast founded in December, 1990. Over 25 years of existence, thousands of prayer cards were sent by W.D. and Kathleen on behalf of the group to recognize those who were being remembered in prayer.
W.D. married Ida Kathleen Barker in 1954 in Lumberton, NC. They were happily married for 60 years. W.D. was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. W.D.’s passions included hunting, cooking, and yard sale treasure hunts. W.D. was a deacon at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church as well as a charter member of Kingstree Presbyterian Church.
W.D. is survived by his spouse, Kathleen; his son, David Barker (Stephanie) Evans; his brother, John Workman Evans, Jr.; his grandchildren, David Hunter Evans and Hanna Kathleen Evans, all of Kingstree, SC; and a host of family and friends who will treasure his memory.
W.D. was preceded in death by his parents, John Workman Evans, Sr. and Trent Dye Evans,  as well as his son, Willard Dye “Dee” Evans, Jr.
A visitation will be held at Kingstree Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 15, 2014. The family will be greeting friends and relatives in the Fellowship Hall at the church from 6-8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Kingstree Presbyterian Church, 229 Sumter Highway, Kingstree, SC at 2 p.m., Saturday, August 16, 2014. Burial will follow the funeral at Kingstree Memorial Gardens, Kingstree, SC.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Dee Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund, The Citadel, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409;  the Dee Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund, Williamsburg Academy, 1000 Sandy Bay Road, Kingstree, SC; or Kingstree Presbyterian Church, PO Box 904, Kingstree, SC 29556. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com.