George Henry Evans

George Henry Evans, 95, of Weirton, WV, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. George was born on July 3, 1925, in Pikesville, MD, to Joseph and Edith Ireland Evans, Sr. At the age of 16, George accompanied his brother Joe to Weirton where Joe was installing new switchboards for Western Electric. While visiting the Pilette family, whom Joe met while working in Weirton, George met their younger daughter, Eloise, who was 13. The family connections remained, and George and Eloise began corresponding as the United States got involved in WWII. On August 1, 1942, at the age of seventeen, George joined the United States Navy. He served his country as an Aviation Radioman with the Naval Air Transport Squadron. One of his most cherished memories was transporting Charles Lindbergh, who enthusiastically signed George’s “short snorter.” George and Eloise continued their correspondence during the War and after seeing her only a few times, he proposed and she accepted. They were married on September 19, 1946. Eloise joined George in Seattle, WA, where he was stationed. He was part of missions that included the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, and Alaska. Upon discharge from the Navy, George and Eloise moved to his parents’ home in Pikesville, MD, where he worked as a Radio Operator for the Maryland State Police. Their first daughter, Valerie Anne, was born in Baltimore on April 12, 1948. George had the opportunity to work for Weirton Steel in a job that offered higher wages and job security. They moved to Weirton in 1948. Although George chose to leave high school to enlist, he always valued education. While working 3-11 for Weirton Steel, he attended Weir High School classes in the mornings. He graduated with the WHS class of 1949. On December 2, 1963, their second daughter, Patricia Renee, was born in Pittsburgh, PA. George worked over thirty-nine years at Weirton Steel in Electronics Maintenance. He also owned and operated Evans Communications for a time. From childhood, George was creative in his free time. He could build anything from scratch, repair anything, was a wiz at remote control, and even turned a Honda 90 into PopPop’s airplane for the Osiris Shriners Clown Patrol. He restored a family player piano, rebuilding every bellows, just for the fun of it. George was also an accomplished private pilot and owned his own Cessna 170B. He was a member of the AOPA, the Weirton Steel 25 Year Club, AF & AM Weirton Lodge 171, Scottish Rite, and the Order of Eastern Star Chapter 147, and the Osiris Shrine. In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Evans, Jr. He will be remembered with love by his wife of 74 years, Eloise Pilette Evans; his daughters, Valerie Anne Minor (Millard) and Patricia Renee Neely (Joe); his grandchildren M. Eric Minor (Tracy), Stephen Michael Minor (Amie), Aaron Brantly Neely and Emily Anne Neely; his great grandchildren, Arden Claire Minor, Benjamin Eric Minor, Katlin Kouns, and Zachary Nottingham; his niece Bea Sobolak (Nick Petrovich); his cousin Janet Jones. A private family funeral will be held Saturday, September 26, 2020, at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street, Weirton. The Rev. Dr. Christina Hosler will lead the service. Interment with military honors conducted by the American Legion Post 10 and the United States Navy will follow at the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. A public celebration of George’s life will be held at a later date at the Paris Presbyterian Church where he was a member. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org. Share tributes and memories at www. grecohertnick.com.