10/16/1927 – 09/18/2022
Kingstree
Funeral Services
The Service to the Witness of the Resurrection will be at 2pm, Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church in Kingstree.
Visitation
Visitation with be a 1:00 in Grace Hall right next to the sanctuary.
Memorials
. Memorials can be made to Williamsburg Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Renovation Fund, 411 N. Academy Street, Kingstree, SC 29556.
Johnny Evans, widower of Ellen Swails Evans, passed away peacefully in his sleep during the early hours of the morning of September 18th, 2022, at Franke at Seaside in Mt. Pleasant. He was less than a month shy of his 95th birthday.
Johnny was born on October 16, 1927, in Kingstree, SC, the son of J. Workman Evans, Sr. and Trent Dye Evans. He and Ellen were childhood sweethearts and lived only two blocks from each other in the idyllic setting of their Kingstree neighborhood of the Depression and early war years. They were married in November 1947 and celebrated 66 years of marriage until Ellen’s death in December 2013.
Johnny was a classic overachiever. He was in the Clemson College Class of 1948, but finished early in the fall of 1947, because “that’s what you’re supposed to do.” Cadet Evans serenaded his fellow cadets with reveille and taps each day, became a cadet chaplain, and was invited to become a member of Blue Key, Tiger Brotherhood, and the national engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi.
He began his teaching career as an Instructor of Physics at The Citadel in January 1948, and soon transitioned into his first love, electrical engineering, where the cadets labeled him “Ready Kilowatt” because of his hyper-zealousness of the subject. The couple lived with the other young faculty at the Old Citadel on Marion Square where they formed lifetime friendships. Lt. Evans served in the US Army in Germany during the Korean War where he swore his presence there guaranteed that the Russians would not invade the West. Johnny found his way to the private sector at International Paper in Georgetown in 1955 and then on to Westvaco in 1959. That’s where he had his most fun and achieved the most professionally, yucking it up with the fellas and ladies in The Zoo and eventually retiring as Chief Electrical Engineer in 1993.
Johnny was most proud of being a lifelong Presbyterian, serving as a member of the Session in 3 different churches well into his 90s. When asked to serve that last time he said, “They need my wisdom.”
He is survived by his son, Jack (Evie), of Mt. Pleasant; son, Frank, of Columbia; his grandchildren, Drew (Kelly) and their children Owen and Rhys, Emily Limehouse (Thomas) and their children Louise and John Forrest; Forrest Evans (Anna) and their daughter Eliza, all of Mt. Pleasant; and Kell Evans of Columbia.
Finally, Johnny is survived by his goddaughter, Lucie Smunk (Bill) of Kingstree, who was the daughter he never had, and a special nephew, David Evans (Stephanie). It is because of these wonderful people and their families that Johnny’s 22 years back in Kingstree were so enjoyable.
In addition to Ellen, Johnny was predeceased by his parents, his brother Willard Dye Evans, and a great grandson, Thomas Ashley Limehouse, III.
The family wishes to express their sincere thanks and appreciation of Miss Bea Fleming of Kingstree who spoiled “Mr. Johnny” rotten since Ellen’s passing, the wonderful staff at Dr. Allen’s office in Kingstree where he felt like Norm on “Cheers” whenever he walked in; and to the exceptional people at Franke at Seaside that made his six month stay so fantastic.
The Service to the Witness of the Resurrection will be at 2pm, Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church in Kingstree. Visitation with be a 1:00 in Grace Hall right next to the sanctuary. Memorials can be made to Williamsburg Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Renovation Fund, 411 N. Academy Street, Kingstree, SC 29556. Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com
I’m so sad to hear of Johnny’s passing! He was a true inspiration to me ever since he and Ellen moved back to Kingstree! He will surely be missed! Rest In Peace my friend🙏🙏
Jack and Evie
So sorry for the loss of your father and father-in-law. He had a wonderful life according to his obituary. It is so hard to lose them no matter the circumstances. I know you will see him again.❤️🙏
Johnny was so very gracious and kind to me after David and I married in 2016. He was young at heart, and always engaged in such up to date topics of conversation! Whenever I saw David staring at his phone and laughing, I knew Johnny had sent him another great joke!
I’m sure Johnny has already brightened up heaven.❤️
So sad to hear of Mr Johnny’s passing. I moved across the street from him about 9 years ago and we would always talk about every day when he was out walking his dog. He was a very good man and I sure miss our conversations we use to have. Prayers for the family
Mr.Johnny was such a delight. He was so accomplished yet so humble. I loved attending Bible study with him and loved his conversations. I loved him from the first time we met.I’ve missed his presence around town. Until we meet again dear friend.
My prayers for all affected by this loss. He was one of a kind and a very special friend. He will truly be missed. RIP
He always made me feel special. He and Mrs. Ellen would help on Pizza Days at WA and they enjoyed it so much and I always appreciated them donating their sweet time and working so hard. I truly loved them Both! ❤️
Jack, your dad was a wonderful man and had a brilliant mind. I know that he is happy to be with your mom. What a great reunion in Heaven last Saturday.
I am so sorry to hear about Johnny’s passing. He was my mentor when I started with WestVaco back in 1978. He taught me a great deal and he was a true friend to me. I am sorry that I can’t attend the service on Saturday as I have a prior commitment and will be out of town.
Jack and Evie
Charlie and I are so sorry to hear of Johnny’s passing. We so enjoyed spending time with him at our joined family events. He was a delightful man with an insatiable love of learning whose love of family was clearly on display. Please know that you all are in our prayers.
Dear Jack,Evie, Frank and Families, We were so very sorry to learn of your loss! You all will be in our thoughts and prayers for the coming days and weeks. May all the good memories you have comfort you at this sad time. You have many folks sharing in your grief, as Mr. Johnny and Ms. Ellen touched so many lives.
With sincere sympathy,
Wayne and Dawn Ellison Smith
Sorry. To hear of the passing of Mr Johnny , I didn’t get the pleasure of meeting him ,but he sounded like a very loving person,i send my condolences to the family and will keep y’all ib my prayers🙏
Blessed to have enjoyed any time I was able to spend with Mr Johnny (and Miss Ellen) as they always were so close and meant so very much to my entire family.
He was a constant in visits and my conversation with both my Uncle Junie Swittenberg and Lucie Ann in the ladder years, my Aunt Lou and my mother, Kitty, ever since my childhood. I am fortunate to have been able to have been a small part of these friendships.
His presence on every visit I made to Kingstree, holiday or not, was simply like seeing another great uncle and we will always love the memories and the legacy he left with us and with the wonderful family who remains in our lives today.
Jack, Frank, may God continue to bless you and may every day echo in manner of greatness that your father gave to all of us.
All the love in the world, God Bless.
My family and I will miss Johnny greatly . He shared some stories of his time in Germany which he shared with my father when
they were Lt’s in the ARMY . I will miss the ” Penguin ” and his incisive observations and exchanging emails on numerous topics .
Rest in Peace Johnny .
Johnny served in the Army with my dad, Paul Cork. Dad told us some of their history but it wasn’t until Johnny reached out that our family really got to know what they did. For this, we are forever grateful. It was a pleasure getting to know Johnny. The world was a better place and Heaven is much richer. Prayers for your family. 🙏