Walter Lynn Evans (76) of Vandalia

Walter Lynn Evans, 76, of Vandalia, passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2023 at HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Springfield.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, May 19, 2023 at Unity Baptist Church, Vandalia with Pastor Leon Goff officiating. A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Unity Baptist Church, Vandalia and also one hour prior to services at the church Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Walt may be made to the Evans Public Library, Fayette County Cancer Fund, or the Carl Rhodes Barnabas Fund. Online condolences can be expressed by clicking here.

Walter Lynn Evans was born to Charles Warren Evans I and Rea Olyve (Leidel) Evans on January 02, 1947 in Vandalia, IL. Walt married Tina Ann (King) Evans on January 15, 1988 in Las Vegas, NV. Walt started working at the age of 14 at the Harris Grocery Store in Vandalia, he was dedicated and hardworking; starting work at such a young age grew Walt’s work ethic into what it matured into in his adult life. He became a registered nurse in 1968; serving stateside in the Navy at the Newport Naval Hospital in Newport, RI during the Vietnam War from 1968-1970. He was proud to continue the tradition of his father’s military service. He later became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist; he worked as an anesthetist for almost 50 years, first at the Fayette County Hospital, later the Effingham Surgical Center and finished his career back at Vandalia’s Fayette County Hospital. For many years, he was the only anesthetist at FCH. He sacrificed many hours of family time to care for the sick and injured. He would not have wanted it any other way. Not only was Walt outstanding at his profession, but the attention and personal care he provided to his patients was as important to him as his knowledge and practices as a CRNA. Although he did not currently belong to a church, Walt held true to biblical commands as he gave generously and was a “father to the fatherless” in many ways. Walt loved to share his wisdom and talent of hunting and guided many men, women, boys and girls on their first hunt. Seeing others succeed in this way was as rewarding to him as his own trophy hunts. He was a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation. He achieved the American Grand Slam and also harvested a Boone & Crockett Buck in 2005. Walt’s love and pride for his family, children and grandchildren was as big as his giving heart. He deeply valued many lifelong friendships; he made friends wherever he went and had friends across the country due to his avid love of hunting, fishing and collecting native American Artifacts.

Walt will be greatly missed by his wife, Tina; daughter, Stephanie Thomas and son-in-law, Brent Tedrick; son, Greg (Faith) Evans all of Vandalia; stepsons, Jeremy (Robyn) Easton of Longmont, CO and Jason (Becky) Easton of Chatham, IL; beloved grandchildren, Jaden Evans, Jace Thomas, Ayla Evans, Raven Evans all of Vandalia, Jaxon Easton, Hudson Easton of Chatham, IL, Bowen Easton of Longmont, CO, Lilly Tedrick, Cooper Tedrick of Vandalia; and sister, Tanja Ervin of Vandalia.

Walt was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Raella Evans; brothers, Charles Evans II and Brad Evans.