Evelyn was born in Fresno, California on June 3, 1929 to Erwin Otto Griebel and Edith Phyllis (Coleman) Griebel. Her parents moved to Visalia when she was 3½ and bought the family ranch on Tulare Avenue & Pinkham (2nd Avenue East). She was raised and educated in Visalia, graduating from Visalia Unified High School in 1947. She continued her education at College of Sequoias, where she obtained her business degree. Evelyn married Albert Emery Flint and to this union was born three sons, Thomas, Gregory and Brian. Her family did farming and well drilling for a few years. In 1952 they began mining for tungston with a US Government contract, living in Three Rivers and later in Badger. In 1957 when they lost the government contract, they brought all of the pipe and equipment down to the east side of Visalia and began selling used pipe and equipment. This was the beginning of Suburban Pipe & Steel of Visalia of which Evelyn and Albert (until his death in 1979) was the owner for 61 years. In 1960 they moved to their present location. In 1983 she met Robert Hugo Slate and they married on February 18, 2011 and made their home in Visalia. Evelyn enjoyed her work, her customers and her community. She and Robert enjoyed traveling in their motor home. Evelyn was always a happy person and met many wonderful people.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Erwin and Edith and her brothers, Jay Dexter Griebel, Cortis Bradford Griebel and Norman Wentworth Griebel.
Evelyn is survived by her loving husband, Robert Slate of Visalia; three sons Thomas Flint and wife Virginia, Gregory Lee Flint and Brian Robert Flint and girlfriend Tammy, all of Visalia; stepson, Edmond Allen Slate of Seymour, TX and stepdaughter, Roberta Grace Slate of Brooklyn Center, MN and her grandchildren Gabriel, Denise, Danny, Christina and Savannah, Tiffany, Brian Jr., and Dane and numerous great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2018 from 4 – 7 p.m. at Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Avenue in Visalia. Graveside services will be held on Friday, October 5, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Smith Mount Cemetery in Dinuba, CA with Celebration of Life Services following at 1:30 p.m. at Visalia United Methodist Church, 5200 W. Caldwell Avenue in Visalia.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or Visalia Rescue Mission, 741 N. Santa Fe St., Visalia, CA 93292 in Evelyn’s name.
Tributes and condolences may be made at www.millerchapel.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia, CA (559) 732-8371.
