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Note: N117 Robert was a butcher, an insurance salesman/independent agent, Vincennes, IN City-Clerk Treasurer 1963-1971 and Knox County Treasurer 1972-1980. He ran for Mayor twice and narrowly lost. He was involved in Republican politics from 1952-Present.
Robert Earl “Bob” Evans, Sr. was born January 9, 1921 in hia parents home on Main Street in Monroe City, Indiana. He attend Monroe city school from 1st grade to 12th grade. While in grade school he worked at Jim Kensler’s grocery from 6 years old - 12th grade. He delivered bread for Austin Bonewits. In High School he played basketball and baseball. He graduated from High School in 1939. From 1939-1940 he worked at Kroger’s Grocery Store in Vincennes, Indiana. He drove a 1939 Ford to work in Vincennes. From 1940 - 1941 he worked for a construction company, builing the highway (IN-241) from Monroe City to Wheatland, Indiana. 1941 - 1943 he worked at the Crane Naval Depot, surveying and building roads. He was the instrument man running the level. During this time working at Crane he and a friend, Eldon Cooper were coming home from a trip to Petersburg, Indiana when they saw two youg ladies walking along the road and asked them if they wanted a ride home. One of the girls, ? Goodwin said “yes”, but the other one, Ella Bline would not get in the car, but finally was persuade it was safe. Bob discovered that Ella went rollar skating on Saturday nights in Washington, Indiana and he said he liked to skate and would come over. He went skating and Ella was there with her sister Mary. Bob took them to a soda shop after skating and the courtship led to their marriage December 2, 1943. 1943 - 1945 he worked at the Naval Ship Yards in Evansville, Indiana. He was a surveyor, setting center points for the gun turrets on the LST boats. In 1946, he tried to get a job, but a doctor said he had a bad heart and wouldn’t let him work. His first child Darrell was born February 10, 1946 and he needed a job to support his family. Carl McCammick, owner of Washington (IN) City Market gave him a job and then the market was bought by Hershel and Delta Doades and he worked for them. In 1948 he went to work for Louie Melchor at a grocery store in Vincennes, IN until 1949. His second son, John, was born November 30, 1947. In 1950 he moved his family to Vincennes, Indiana and started working for Piper Grocery Store until 1952 when he stated working pat-time in the Insurance business with Kemper Insurance Company. His District Manager was Alvie McMillian. Those woking for Bob were Frank Chambers in Bruceville, IN; Bob Beasley in Elnora, IN; Edgar Menke in Westphalia, IN; Oscar Finke in Vincennes, IN; Harold Brown in Ragsdale, IN; Morse Gillitt in Logootee, IN; Bill Wills in Freelandville, IN. He was in the Insurance business until 1989 when his two sons (Darrell and Mark) took over the business. His third son, Steve, was born September 1, 1955. In 1957 he was working for the Indiana State Higway Department under Governor Harold Handley until 1961 when the Democrat Matt Welsh from Vincennes was elected and fired him along with all the other Republicans. His fourth son, Mark, was born July 12, 1957. In 1962 he worked for a short time at Reynolds Spring Company, but didn’t like factory work and returned to insurance full time. His fifth son, Robert, Jr., was born April 1, 1962.
Bob was always involved in politics, especially from 1952, when Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon ran for President and Vice-President of The United States of America. he was a precint commtteeman and in 1963 ran for, and was elected, to the office of Vincennes City-Clerk Treasurer. He was re-elected in 1967, ran for Mayor in 1971, but was defeated by Gene Montgomery. He then ran for and was elected Knox County Treasurer in 1972. He was relected in 1976. He then was recruited to run for the Mayor’s Office again in 1979, but was defeated by Bill Rose. Since he left as Treasurer, his wife (second wife) Delores was elected Treasurer in 1980 and relected in 1984. His Neice, Beverly (Evans) Marsh was elected Treasurer in 1988, relected in 1992, elected Vincennes City-Clerk Treasurer in 1995, relected in 1999 and 2003.
Bob has retired from the insurance business and politics, but keeps active in the TPA (Traverlers Protective Agency).
Pallbearers: Daniel Evans James Evans Noella Evans Dalton Evans Cameron Evans Bellami Evans Aubrey Evans
Honorary Pallbearers Dustin Evans
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