Phillip W. Evans

Phillip attended Nappanee High School, graduating in 1960, where he was active in football and track. He went on to earn a degree in Industrial Arts from Indiana State University in 1964, and later received a master’s degree in Teaching from Ball State University in 1973. Throughout his career, Phillip worked as an industrial arts teacher, carpenter, and football coach. He also owned and operated Evans Enterprise. In addition to his professional work, Phillip was dedicated to helping others, such as when he did mission work in Haiti.

Phillip loved making presents for his girls. One Christmas, he made every present for his oldest daughters, Pam and Kathy, out of wood. The girls had years of fun playing with those toys and to this day, his oldest daughter Pam is reminded of her dad’s workshop when she smells the familiar scent of any lumber aisle. Phillip was a carpenter at heart, and construction projects were not uncommon around his home. He spent one summer break building a playhouse for his youngest daughters Kristi, Erica and Natalie that was sure to pass any inspection.

Phillip never lost his sense of wonder for things like construction sites. He would gaze in awe at the process of a structure being built from dirt being moved to walls going up. Big or small, Phillip loved a wood project. This included making toys for his grandsons, which are now being enjoyed by his great-grandsons. He was in the process of putting together a workshop to make more toys at the time of his death.

Phillip was a life-long student, who took joy in learning about a variety of topics. He spent years learning about the Civil War, creating his own library on the topic. While growing up, his daughters remember NOVA and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom as frequent players on the television. Phillip’s final choice of light reading was Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, proof of his desire to learn more about his world.

Phillip was preceded in death by his siblings, Roger Evans (Betty), Diana Fought (Everett) and Jim Evans (Joyce).

He is survived by siblings Dallas Evans (Sharon), Vonda Bedward (Bob) and Tom Evans (Elaine); children, Pam Britt, Kathy Disinger (Dean), Kristi Fowler (Chris), Erica Evans, and Natalie Evans (Brad); grandchildren, Andrew Disinger (Jess), Matthew Disinger (Samantha), Jacob Disinger, Isabella Fowler, Sorrell Fowler, Alicia Fowler, Wyatt Thomason and Mason Thomason; great grandchildren, Hayden Disinger and Kameron Disinger, an 11 nieces and nephews.

Services for Phillip W. Evans will be on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery in Indianapolis, IN. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm with services starting at 3:00pm. A graveside service to bury Phillip's ashes will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family of Phillip W. Evans requests that donations be made to Indiana University School of Medicine to support anatomical education program. Make memorial gifts payable to “IU Foundation” and mail to IU Foundation, P.O. Box 7072, Indianapolis, IN 46207-7072. Please indicate “In memory of Phillip W. Evans” on the gift. Donations can also be made in memory of Phillip W. Evans to Mental Health America of Indiana via www.mhai.net.