WALTER HENRY EVANS
Walter Henry Evans died May 29, 2023, surrounded by the family he loved. He was born on May 20, 1932, in Columbus, Texas to Lillie Burger Evans and Leve Evans, the second child of three. Growing up, Walter was best known as “Fuse-e” Evans earned for his quick running ability on the 1948 and 1949 Columbus Cardinal High School football team and as a high and low hurdler in the 1949 Texas State Track and Field Competition. Under new head coach Bill Hartley, the ’49 Cardinals went into the final week of football season with a chance to win the south half of the district title, with Fuse-e Evans scoring the first 17-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. This nickname stuck and was used by friends and family for his entire life. His love of athletics and exercising, especially in retirement, included his daily walk around the Columbus athletic track, which kept him strong and healthy for most of his 91-years.
After high school, Walter moved to San Marcos, Texas where he attended Texas State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Upon graduation, bridging the Korean and Vietnam War, Walter enlisted in the Army, spending almost 10 months at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska where he learned to snow ski and coming from Texas, said, “it was cold all the time.” He was ultimately discharged from Fort Lewis, outside of Tacoma Washington in 1956. Walter, whose heart was always in central Texas and Columbus, immediately enrolled in the University of Texas Austin, in pursuit of a master’s degree in business administration.
With education behind him, Walter moved to Houston, Texas for a lifelong career in the oil and gas industry obtaining his first professional position with Lane Wells Oil Field Company and ultimately retiring from ExxonMobil. Walter lived in Houston for over 32 years, working, raising children, and restoring vintage sports cars, yet almost every weekend and holiday was spent visiting family and friends in his hometown of Columbus, Texas. So it was of no surprise, when he ultimately moved to Columbus in 1992 making it his forever home and building his forever house under the live oak trees.
Also capturing Walter’s heart were the Spanish Peaks of Cuchara, Colorado tucked away on the scenic Highway of Legends, which filled much of his retirement days. His favorite seasons were summer due to the annual Cuchara Fourth of July celebration enjoyed with a large family gathering. And fall, when each year he and his wife Isabel headed to Cuchara for the changing of the Aspen leaves and stayed until the first snowflake fell.
A significant and rewarding lifelong pursuit of Walter was his commitment to the Masonic principals of brotherly love, relief, and truth. Walter received the honor of Master Mason for more than sixty- years during which time he was also a member of the Shriners International where he became committed to pediatric specialty health care through his support of the Shriner’s Children Hospital. And having studied the Masonic teachings for over fifty years, Walter also achieved the high honor of 32° Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
Walter is survived in death by his wife of 27-years, Isabel Galvan Evans, and her children Avelino Andrew Gon-Gora and his wife Dianne and Mark David GonGora and his wife Sherrill. They currently reside in Houston, Texas.
He is also survived by his children Terri Evans Beattie and her husband Mark Beattie who currently reside in Charlotte, North Carolina, and his son Michael Wayne Evans, his wife Pilar, and their three children Jacob Michael Evans, John Luke Evans, and Sara Grace Evans who call Kingwood, Texas home. He is also survived by his brother Vernon Leve Evans and his wife Judy currently residing in Dallas, Texas and Vernon’s son Vern Evans who lives in Los Angeles, California. Both Walter and his sister Lillian Sue Gassmann (Died - May 31, 2019) are survived by Walter’s brother-in-law Roland Gassmann of Columbus, Texas and his wife Janice, and Roland and Sue’s daughter Jana Ortis and her husband Brian Ortis of Houston, Texas.
Walter will be lovingly remembered by his family as a steady influence in the lives in his children and grandchildren by supporting a strong commitment to their education, as one who was interested in exploring America whether it be in a plane, fifthwheel camper, or a 1965 station wagon, and as a life-long and loyal son of Columbus, Texas.
Walter’s family requests that any who wish to express a remembrance of Walter, do so by donating to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, who are celebrating their 100th Anniversary. Shrinerschildren.
org.
Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome.
com.