Eddie "Doug" Evans

Eddie Douglas "Doug" Evans was born on January 17, 1948, to Edna Elsie Evans and Delmar Evans, and spent the next 78 years building a life defined by talent, loyalty, and a deep devotion to the people he loved. He passed away unexpectedly on January 24, 2026, from complications following surgery. His legacy stretches from Air Force bases to British villages, from Detroit automotive factories to tournament lanes, and eventually to Florida where he spent his last years with his wife and grandchildren.
Although his name was Eddie, he was Doug to most people. He was "Fudgie" to the bowling community, a nickname that stuck for decades. He was "Umpa" to his beloved grandchildren. No matter what name you used, you knew exactly who he was. He was loving, talented, unpretentious, deeply devoted to the people he loved, and a little stubborn.
Doug's story had a fun twist in 1966 at a birthday party in West Virginia. Teenagers were playing a game called "Post Office." The boys had numbers. The girls pulled numbers. Brenda Lowe pulled number 13 which belonged to Doug, and the rest is history. Not long after, Brenda told him that he was the one she planned to marry. She turned out to be right. They were married on September 21, 1968, and they stayed by each other's side for 57 years.
From 1967 to 1971, Doug served in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Weathersfield in England and he and Brenda lived off base in a small village called Steeple Bumpstead. After returning to the United States, they moved to Detroit, Michigan. Doug began his career with General Motors and stayed with the company until retiring in 2001.
However, retirement did not mean slowing down. It meant it was finally time for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Senior Tour.
Bowling was not just a pastime for Doug. It was the sport he mastered. He was inducted into the Michigan Majors Hall of Fame and the Detroit Bowling Hall of Fame. He achieved seventy-seven sanctioned 300 games. In April 2025 he bowled three of them in a nine-day span. His high sanctioned series was 882. He won the Detroit Masters in his forties, the Senior Detroit Masters at 50, and the Super Seniors Detroit Masters at 60. He became the first person to win all three divisions. No one else has accomplished that, and he still holds that record. Later he added a National Senior PBA Tournament win in Davie, Florida, which was one of his proudest moments. People who asked him how he did it often got a shrug or a short one-liner. He was not boastful. He simply enjoyed competing, winning, and being around people who loved the sport.
For all his accomplishments, his favorite role was at home. Doug was a proud husband, father, and Umpa. He and Brenda raised their two children, Kellie and Douglas, in Detroit, Michigan. In 2012, Doug and Brenda moved to Florida to be close to their first grandchild who was on the way. That choice became one of the greatest joys of his life. His granddaughters Maia and Emma called him "Umpa" and they adored him. Doug picked Maia up from school every day until the day before his surgery, where they often spent the time having conversations about middle school gossip and quick trips to McDonalds for an after-school treat.
Doug is survived by his wife Brenda Evans; children Kellie (Cesar) Rodriguez and Douglas (Ana) Evans; sisters Linda (Bob) Hill and Marylou Wilson; nieces Lori (Jeff) Pigg and Melissa (Ryan) Jambeau. Family mattered to him more than anything, and his favorite thing was simply to have all his family together.
On January 8, 2026, Doug went into the hospital for a routine surgery. He experienced a stroke during the procedure. He held on for two and a half weeks with Brenda and his children by his side before he passed. His absence is felt deeply by everyone who loved him.
Doug did not live a somber life, so his story should not sound that way, nor should he be remembered that way. He would not have wanted a funeral, rather a celebration of life at his favorite place (the bowling alley, of course.) His life included adventure, competition, a lifelong love story and a level of athletic excellence that spoke for itself. He did not seek attention, but his achievements earned respect anyway.
In the end, Doug lived the same way he bowled: steady, focused, respected, and with a quiet confidence that carried him far. The people who knew him will miss his presence, his humor, and his unwavering loyalty. What he built in family, in sport, and in love will continue to matter for a long time to come. His story is one of accomplishment and steady love; a life lived fully and on his own terms.