Duval "Val" Hickman Evans' Obituary
Duval Hickman Evans, Delaware River Pilot
Duval Hickman Evans, 82, of Bonita Springs, FL, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2017, at Moffitt Cancer Center, in Tampa, FL, following a brief illness. He was the son of the late Donald R. Evans, Sr. and Elsie A. Evans. He was born September 2, 1934, at the Beebe Hospital in Lewes, DE, and graduated from Lewes High School in the class of 1952. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed to his four-year piloting apprenticeship.
Captain Evans enjoyed a lifelong career as a member of the Pilots' Association for the Bay and River Delaware, joining his fellow pilots in successfully navigating thousands of ships; some of the largest of their kind in the world; through the challenging ship channels and sandy shoals of the Delaware Bay and River. He loved his profession, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Louis, uncle Nathaniel, and older brother William. He retired, reluctantly, in 2004, at the age of 70.
An accomplished sailor, Captain Evans was devoted to the sea. He would sail off anytime, to any place, in any weather, as long as he could find a fellow enthusiast as a shipmate (a family member, usually). He raced on his 17' Mobjack at the Lewes Yacht Club, on 50-footers from Newport, RI to Bermuda, and on his own 36' sloop, "September Morn," up and down the east coast and on the Chesapeake Bay.
Captain Evans's sea-going DNA was passed on to his children and grandchildren. They, their cousins and summer friends earned their sea legs in Lewes through years of “messing about” in his unsinkable Boston Whaler, water skiing, fishing, crabbing and, of course, clamming in nearby Rehoboth Bay.
Captain Evans was for many years a member of the Lewes Yacht Club and more recently the Colony Golf Club in Bonita Springs.
He is survived by his wife and best friend Elisabeth Ann whom he and family fondly called "Annie". They worked together on many houses and gardens together over the years but still found time in retirement for many memorable cruises including Val's final cruise in January 2017 through the Panama Canal which was on his "Bucket List".
Captain Evans is also survived by four children, Duval Hickman Evans, Jr., of Houston, TX; John Clayton Evans (Lynne) of Downingtown, PA; Jay Allison Norris, of Jupiter, FL; and, Elizabeth Frame Lytle (Kurt) of Manheim, PA; a brother, Robert Butler Evans (Pauletta) of Falls Church, VA, six grandchildren, and the Baker family of Washington D.C.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, John Rodney Evans, Donald Rodney Evans, Jr., (Ann), William Wallace Evans (Vera), and Douglas Jay Evans (Randi).
Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 11:00 am, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 2nd & Market Streets, Lewes, DE 19958. Interment will be private at St. Peter's Cemetery, Lewes, DE.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Evans's name to the St. Peter's Church Cemetery Fund at 2nd and Market Streets, Lewes, DE 19958, and/or raise a glass to Val for a life well lived!
Please sign Mr. Evans's online guest book
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE HAVE ALL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS DELIVERED BY 3 PM, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017 TO PARSELL FUNERAL HOMES, LEWES, DE.
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