 Frederick Evans - Satellite Beach Frederick William Evans, 90, died at home on Sunday, July 12, 2009, following a brief illness. Born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada in 1919, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II, as a clerk, and rose to the rank of Warrant Officer in 1943, when he commenced pilot training. Upon graduation he was transferred to England where he flew spitfire airplanes out of England, and after the invasion of Normandy, flew out of France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was Squadron Leader of the 421 Red Indians, flying Vampires in the UK, and subsequently Sabres. At the cessation of hostilities, he was transferred to the Pacific Theatre of Operations, until it came to a halt with the atomic bombing of Japan. For his service, Squadron Leader Evans received, among many other awards, the British Distinguished Flying Cross. During the Korean War, as an RCAF exchange pilot, he flew a 50 mission tour in Korea with the USAFs 334 Squadron. His last Sabre flying was in 1965 with the Sabre Transition Unit at Chatham, N.B. Between the wars, he was an air force flying instructor and a member of the Blue Devils first all jet Canadian aerobatic team, which performed over the east coast of the United States and Canada. Following retirement from the RCAF, he joined Pan American World Air ways at Cape Canaveral. In 1973 he opened the Colonial Gift Shop in Indialantic. He also became a licensed realtor. He was a member of the Canadian Fighter Pilots Association, the Sabre Pilots Association Air Division Squadron, the UK Royal Air Force Club, the Royal Canadian Legion Air Force Association, the Quiet Birdmen, and the Loyal Order of Moose. He attended Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Satellite Beach. His love of travel took him through out the United States, Canada, much of Europe and the Caribbean. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Janet; good friend, Clara Evans; son, Frederick (Geordie) of Louisville, KY; daughter, Deborah Wall of West Melbourne, FL; step-son, Jeffrey Jahnke of Hartford, CT; and step-daughter, Annie Butkus of Indian Harbour Beach, FL, all of whom will miss his extraordinary presence in their lives. A celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, July 22nd at Beach Funeral Home, Indian Harbour Beach with a gathering of friends at 4 p.m., and a memorial service at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Health First, 1900 Dairy Rd, Melbourne, FL 32904, or the Humane Society of South Brevard, 2600 Otter Creek Lane, Melbourne, FL 32940. Arrangements by Beach Funeral Homes, Indian Harbour Beach |
