William Francis Evans

William Francis “Bill” Evans Jr. of St. Petersburg, Florida passed away on November 6th at the age of 94. Born on December 2, 1930 amidst the Great Depression in Cleveland, Ohio to William Evans Sr. and Charlotte Malinowski, Bill quickly became a product of the times by helping to support his family from an early age. His values and ethics were forged through the challenges of the 1930s and 1940s, and over his nine decades of life he never lost those principles. In 1948, Bill married the love of his life, Rosalie “Rose” Dobransky, and they proceeded to have two beautiful daughters, Susan in 1951 and Carole in 1960 while also selflessly raising Rose’s younger sister, Charlotte.

Despite no formal training, Bill became a highly respected mechanical engineer, building his own business and contracting with other businesses such as NASA and SpaceX. In his free time, he enjoyed bowling, playing cards, and supporting his communities, most notably with the Jaycees of North Royalton, Ohio. After losing Rose in 2013, Bill continued to be a doting father to Susan and Carole and never lost his passion for solving problems, building machines, and developing products. His generosity and impact to those who knew him will be felt for years to come. Bill was preceded in death by his mother (Charlotte), father (Bill Sr.), wife (Rose), and daughter (Susan). He is survived by his daughter (Carole), grandson (Frank Lengal), granddaughter (Andra Wilkins), and four great grandchildren.