Ben H. Evans, 86, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Saturday, March 9, 2019, at Lakeside Senior Living Center in Douglas.
Graveside services will be held 4 PM, Monday, March 11, 2019, in Evergreen Cemetery, Fitzgerald. The family will receive friends beginning at 3 PM at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Evans was born April 11, 1932, in Stockbridge, Georgia, to the late Benjamin Franklin & Rosa Hendrix Evans. He grew up on a farm in Lax and joined the United States Army at the age of 17 and was sent to Korea following basic training. He was captured and held as a Prisoner of War for 31 months in North Korea. After his release, he returned to Ocilla and was honored by the community and presented the Key to the City, a $500 cash gift, as well as a new car. He was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He owned and operated a service station and a truck stop. Mr. Evans drove a semi and worked for Ross of Georgia. His nickname was Gator because he was so tough. His favorite pastime was playing checkers at Walt’s Auto Parts, watching the Braves and the Cowboys play ball, and sitting on his porch watching the squirrels and chickens while serving as neighborhood watch on N. Main Street Extension. He was a member of Salem Baptist Church.
He is survived by his children and their spouses: Fred & Susan Evans of Ocilla, David & Lisa Evans of Fitzgerald, Janet & Gary Dunn of Fitzgerald, and Cynthia & Johnny Troupe of Abbeville; a daughter-in-law, Cathy Reynolds of Fitzgerald; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ernest Evans of Covington. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Brown Evans; two sons, Rodney Reynolds and Daryl Reynolds; a granddaughter, Jennifer Dunn; a sister, Nora Lee Loggins; and a brother, Oscar Lamar “Pat” Evans.
The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to the Cancer Coalition of Ben Hill and Irwin Counties to benefit children facing cancer.