Alan Herbert Evans' Obituary
“Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21) we’re positive are the first words Alan Herbert Evans, age 80 of Gahanna, Ohio, heard from Our Lord and Savior as he made his final journey on January 22, 2025, at Kobacker House. He was born March 21, 1944, in Columbus, Ohio, the son of the late Paul and Beulah (Hampp) Evans. A man who valued faith, family, and friends, he married Patricia Karen Roberts on June 6, 1965, at the First United Methodist Church in Athens, Ohio, on the evening of the same day they graduated from Ohio University. They went on to share 59 years of marriage.
He was a proud graduate of New Lexington High School Class of 1962 and was instrumental in creating the New Lexington Alumni Association and later the NLHS Alumni Association Scholarship.
He attended the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University where he was editor of the newspaper. Upon graduating (in just three years) from Ohio University, he enlisted in the US Air Force and served a tour in Udorn, Thailand achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant as an MP and office clerk/writer. He worked as an editor at Ohio State University’s Research Foundation before he and Pat purchased Rocky Fork Printing in Gahanna. Together they ran their business from 1979 until retiring in 2016.
He was a member of Stonybrook United Methodist Church where he participated in the men’s group, helping with their annual spaghetti dinner, prayer groups, and teaching Sunday school. He was also a 40-year member of Sunrise Lodge F&AM #783 as well as VFW Post #4719. He was proud to have gone on the November 4, 2021 Honor Flight 112 with high school classmate Larry Foster.
He was a model train enthusiast who helped found COSG-Central Ohio S Gaugers- and served four years as president of NASG-National Association of S Gaugers.
He is survived by his wife Pat; daughter, Laura of Vandergrift, PA; son, Corey (Anna) of Pickerington; seven grandchildren- Matthew Evans (Austin, TX), Hannah and Emma Dobrinick (Trafford, PA); and Decker, Finnley, Hatcher, and Jenson Evans (Pickerington); sisters Nancy Canniff (New Lexington) and Judy (Larry) Barnhouse (Tavares, FL); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents and grandparents, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Brock Canniff.
Above all, he loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He attended their many activities and taught them all the tricks of fishing. He enjoyed sharing his love of all sorts of trains. They will miss his infectious smile and laughter.
A celebration of Alan’s life will be held Friday, May 2nd at 11AM, at Stonybrook UMC, 485 Cherry Bottom Rd., Gahanna 43230 with a luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be made to Honor Flight-Columbus PO Box 20133, Columbus, OH 43220; Kobacker House OhioHealth Foundation 3430 OhioHealth Parkway, Fl. 3, Columbus, OH 43202, or Tunnels to Towers Foundation 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.
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