Audrey Evans

Audrey W. Evans died peacefully December 26, 2012 at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, IL. Mrs. Evans was born April 28, 1917 in Toledo, OH, the daughter of Carl and Cora (Moore) Wilcke. She grew up in Dayton, OH where she graduated from Stivers High School. She enjoyed synchronized swimming and many happy years as a Girl Scout. One very special memory was attending the National Girl Scout Camp in upstate New York in 1931. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1939 where she majored in English and acted in many student theatrical productions. She then worked for WHIO radio in Dayton where she hosted a morning magazine of the air. The high point of her broadcasting years was her interview of then first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. She married the Rev. Hugh Bean Evans on May 24, 1941 and for 47 years they were best friends and traveling companions. His career in service to the Presbyterian Church took them to Philadelphia, PA, Cincinnati and Columbus. After raising three children, Mrs. Evans earned her masters degree from the University of Cincinnati and until retirement worked as librarian and media director for the Worthington school district. She was an avid reader and gardener. Dear to her heart were the Columbus Museum of Art and the Columbus Children’s Choir. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority and also an active member of Broad Street Presbyterian Church where she was an elder. In her final years she found her church home at the First Presbyterian Church in Olney. Mrs. Evans was preceded in death by her parents, son-in-law and husband. She is survived by her sister Frances Erskine of Centerville, OH, dear friend Margaret Hukill of Gahanna, son Hugh W. (Carole) Evans of Worthington, daughters Audrey Lee of Somers, NY and Ellen (Dr. Pete) Weber of Olney, IL and six grandchildren: Peter Weber of Carbondale IL, Libby Weber (Jeff Smith) of San Diego CA, Anne Weber (fiancé Matt Bollinger) of Boston, MA, Allison (Dave)Van Kirk of Atlanta GA, Hugh D. Evans (fiancé Katie Lev) of Columbus, Craig (Diane) Lee of Overland Park, KS and great-grandsons Calvin Lee and Carter Lee. A memorial service will be held at 11:00am Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at Broad Street Presbyterian Church, 760 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215 with the Rev. Ann Palmerton officiating. Burial will follow at 3:00pm at Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, OH. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Broad Street Presbyterian Church or Ohio Wesleyan University, 61 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, OH 43015 in her memory. Arrangements by Schoedinger Midtown Chapel. www.schoedinger.com.