Banks Evans

Albert "Banks" Evans Sr., 85, of 385 Winchester Drive died Sunday Dec. 24, 2006, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem following three weeks of serious illness. The service to celebrate his life will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at Beulah United Church of Christ by the Rev. Benn Fleming. Burial will follow in Beulah United Church of Christ Cemetery with military rites by Randolph County Honor Guard. Albert Banks Evans Sr. was born April 22, 1921, to Jesse Lee and Callie Fritts Evans. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Evelyn Koontz Evans; a sister, Grace Evans; and brothers Lawrence, Hubert, Fred, Cliff and Troxler Evans. He was a graduate of Welcome High School and High Point College, where he played basketball and soccer, and he received his master's degree in education from Appalachian State University. He was a 1st Lt. in the U.S. Air Force, serving during World War II as a communication training officer in China and a member of the famous Flying Tigers. On Nov. 24, 1946, he married his high-school sweetheart, Evelyn Koontz, and they began their teaching careers serving the children of Davidson County for almost 40 years. He was retired from the Davidson County school system, where he taught and coached at Linwood High School, Welcome Elementary School and retired from North Davidson High School, where he taught social studies and coached several sports and served as President of the North Davidson Athletic Association. "Banks" was a faithful member of Beulah United Church of Christ, where he was a Sunday school teacher and superintendent, deacon, elder and Consistory President. He was a former member and past president of the Welcome Civitan Club. For 20 years, he spent his summers as a director of a summer sports camp, "Camp Pla-Mor" at Windy Hill Beach, S.C. Banks enjoyed quail hunting and fishing and especially gardening during his retirement years. He is survived by a son, Albert Banks Evans Jr. and his wife, Melody, and a daughter, Harriette Murphy, and her husband, Clifton; four grandchildren, Tamara Murphy Beck and her husband, Christopher, Christie Murphy Perrell and her husband, Jeffrey, Brian Christopher Evans and his wife, Lauren, and Gregory Kyle Evans and his fiance, Cassie Cox; five great-grandchildren, Morgan and Grayson Beck, Jackson and Jared Perrell and Callie Rachel Evans; a sister, Gladys Conrad and her husband, Lawrence, of Lexington; and 15 very loving nieces and nephews and their families. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at the Davidson Funeral Home in Lexington and other times at the home of his daughter, 385 Winchester Drive. Memorials may be directed to Beulah United Church of Christ, 2828 Arnold Road, Lexington, NC 27295 or to Hospice of Davidson County Building Fund, P.O. Box 1941, Lexington, NC 27293.