Bill V. Evans

Billie Virgil Evans, 83, passed away on Sunday, December 19, 2010, in Victoria after a long and courageous battle with inclusion body myositis. He was born on December 5, 1927, in Bloomington, Texas, and was the child of the late Homer Virgil Evans and Camilla Moczygemba. He was raised by his late maternal grandmother and his beloved aunts and uncles.

Bill was an industrious and resourceful man. As a young boy and teenager, he shined shoes in downtown Victoria, swept the floor in his uncle’s business, sold newspapers, and worked in a bakery and an automobile garage. He served in the United States Air Force from 1945 to 1948 and was a Radio Operator stationed in Greenland.

Bill married D’Loris Louise Kramp on July 16, 1950. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past summer. He was baptized and confirmed in 1954 and was a member of First English Lutheran Church throughout his life.

Following his service in the Air Force, Bill worked in the oil field. In 1953 his worldwide adventures began in Bombay, India where he worked as a deep sea diver for Collins Submarine Pipeline Specialists. Later, he became an underwater and land pipeline construction superintendent and a deep sea diving supervisor. He loved his work and was fortunate to travel the United States and the world. He worked in India, Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, France, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Egypt, Zaire, South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Lyon, Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Norway and the North Sea.

Bill and his family enjoyed living in South Africa from 1963 to 1968. Bill laid underwater pipelines for the cities of Cape Town and Durban and mined diamonds by barge from the seabed off the coast of Southwest Africa. On their way home from South Africa, the family visited Portugal, Italy, Switzerland and Holland.

Bill worked at the cutting edge of submarine pipeline technology throughout his decades in the industry. Many of his underwater pipeline jobs were “firsts”, setting records for deepest water or longest pull, or requiring innovative equipment designs. His unique expertise, skills and work ethic were in worldwide demand and he quickly earned the respect of everyone he worked with. Bill retired from On and Offshore Quality Control Specialists in 2003 due to the effects of inclusion body myositis, which was diagnosed in 2001.

Wherever Bill went, he created a community of friends. He delighted in entertaining others with stories based on his many adventures. He was a generous man who enjoyed bringing gifts of engraved leather belts, shirts, watches and Bibles to the crews who worked for him in Africa. Once, deep in the jungles of Nigeria, he came across a one room schoolhouse with children sitting on the floor. With the permission from the headmaster, Bill and a few members of his crew repaired all the broken chairs and desks so the children would have a better place to learn. During the last year of his life, Bill was a resident of Twin Pines Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center. He became best friends with the staff and other residents and lovingly watched out for those who needed help.

Bill loved life, God and his family. He died with full assurance that he was going home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and that he would spend eternity with Him. D’Loris was the love of his life, and he cherished his daughters and son. He took great delight in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Providing for his family was his greatest joy.

Bill’s advice to young people was Stay straight and get as much education as you can. When you think you have enough education, push for a little more. His advice to all was Go out into life and respect it.

Bill is survived by his wife, D’Loris Louise Kramp; daughters Kathleen Symons and husband Gary, of Friendswood, and Pamela Bungo and husband Michael of Houston; son Bill Evans, Jr. and wife Michele of Victoria; seven grandchildren, Mark Jurica, Sarah Dutcher, Dan Symons, Elise and Jonathan Bungo, and Brittany and Trevor Robinson; six great-grandsons, Nicholas and Ryan Symons, Elijah, Samuel, and Jonah Dutcher, and Lucas Rodriguez; and sister, Bettye Dupont of Refugio.

A memorial service will be held at First English Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 1, 2011, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a reception at the church. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 8819 US Highway 87 North in Victoria, Texas. Flag folding is under the auspices of the Victoria Veterans Council.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Broome, Glenn Christian, Melvin Christian, Bill Crouch, Gary Fellers, John Gholson and Eddie Hooks, Jr.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff at Twin Pines who treated Bill with love, respect and gentleness. We could not have asked for more.

Memorials may be made to First English Lutheran Church or The Myositis Association, 1737 King Street, Suite 600, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Rosewood Funeral Chapel, 3304 Mockingbird Lane, Victoria, Texas, 77904, 361/573-4546.