Daniel Howard Evans

Commander Daniel H. Evans USN (Ret) died on June 20, 2015 in Naples, Florida. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA. During World War II he enlisted in the Navy from High School and after discharge, attended Bucknell University. From Bucknell he entered the Naval Academy as a member of the class of 1951.

Upon graduation he served in the USS Bairoko (CVE-II5). After Bairoko, he entered flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1953. After serving a three-year tour with Patrol Squadron Twenty-Two in Hawaii he returned to the Naval Academy as an instructor in Weapons Engineering Department.

Subsequent tours included Fleet Air Squadron Two in Rota Spain, Commander Fleet Air Norfolk Staff and the Bureau of Naval Weapons in Washington, D.C.

During this period he acquired an MBA from George Washington University.

After attending the Armed Forces Staff College he reported to the USS Wasp (CVS-I8) as Weapons Officer.

During this tour the Wasp participated in the recovery of Gemini 9 June 6, 1966 with Col Thomas Stafford USAF and on Nov 15, 1966 Gemini 12 Eugene Cernan USN LCDR pilot James Lovell Capt USN Command Pilot and Edwin Buzz Aldrin Gemini pilot.

After the Wasp he reported to the Naval Air Development Center as Program and Financial Department Director.

At the Center, he was selected for Captain and nominated for the Naval War College.

Because of the severe, long-term illness of his wife Miriam, he had to retire after 20 years, from the Navy. He formed Evans Engineering Associates which was later sold.

After retirement he taught business and economic courses at Penn State University. He then joined Zink & Triest Company an import/export company as Executive Vice President where he traveled the world buying various spices for resale to large spice corporations.

Leaving Pennsylvania, Dan settled in Naples, Florida where he remarried in 1988. He and his wife Lily traveled, trout fished in the West and Canada, and visited historic sites. They particularly enjoyed back-road trips to the surrounding states from their summer home in the mountains of North Carolina.

He leaves behind his wife Lily of Naples, Florida, three daughters, two-step children and 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. His daughters are Mary Virginia Fox (Mike) of Penn Valley, Pennsylvania, Nancy Danielle Hannon (Tim) of Driggs, Idaho and Abby Griffin Richards (Todd) of Quakertown, Pennsylvania. His two step-children are Thomas Holland Tripp (Kris) of Naples, Florida, and Tracey Jennifer Thorp (Richard) of Ormond Beach, Florida.

Memorial service will be held at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens, Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 10:30 AM. Inurnment following the service at Naples Memorial Gardens, Chapel of Hope.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Vitas Hospice.