Los Angeles
County
Biographies
WALTER
L. EVANS
Twenty-nine
years in Alhambra at the same location, 249 West Main Street, is the proud
claim of Evans Motor Service, owned by Walter L. Evans. The oldest business of its type in the area,
it includes a garage, a complete line of major appliances, television, seat
covers, and tires. Mr. Evans’ other
store, at 844 East Main Street, handles the same type of business, and together
the two establishments employ thirty-five people. Evans Motor Service does all its own
servicing, handles its own credit, and has the most complete service department
for refrigerators, washers, and television sets in the area.
Walter
L. Evans was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 28, 1913, the son of
Harry S. and Bessie (Yenowine) Evans. His mother was a native of Carthage,
Missouri. His father was born in
Illinois and was in the automotive business; later he was in the finance
business in San Diego. Mr. Evans can
trace his ancestry back to the fourth President of the United States, James
Madison.
Receiving
his elementary and high school education in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mr. Evans then
came to California and attended San Diego State College for one year, after
which he moved to Tyler, Texas, and was engaged in the oil business in the east
Texas oil fields for a year and a half.
When
Mr. Evans came to Alhambra in 1932, he opened Evans Motor Service. One month after Pearl Harbor he converted to
war production, manufacturing airplane and rocket parts. It was considered to be one of the most
efficient plants of its kind in the San Gabriel Valley, and Mr. Evans received
a personal letter of praise from General H. H. Arnold.
Mr.
Evans is a member of the Alhambra Rotary Club and is a charter member of the
Alhambra 20-30 Club, being a member for close to ten years. In the past he has been a worker for the
United Fund.
On
December 4, 1931, Walter Evans married the former Miss Virginia A. McConnell,
who was born in Oklahoma. Mrs. Evans is
a member of the Rotaryanns. There are a
son and a daughter in the Evans family.
Walter E. is a graduate of Monrovia High School and attended the
University of California at Los Angeles.
He is now in business with his father.
Virginia Ann is a graduate of San Marino Hall and attended Pasadena City
College where she was chosen princess of the Tournament of Roses in 1960.
Mr.
Evans finds time for his hobbies of hunting, golf, and fishing.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 617-618, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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BIOGRAPHIES