Richard Idris "Rick" Evans

EVANS, Richard Idris "Rick", of Manakin-Sabot, Va., passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 28. He was 81 years old.

Born April 20, 1942, Rick was the son of Dr. Everett Idris Evans and Laverne Veatch Evans, and the twin brother of Melissa Lee Evans, all deceased. He is survived by his brother, Robert Rhys Evans (wife Beverly); his son, Adam Evans (wife Christy) of Dallas, Texas; his daughter, Kimberly Barnils (husband Armand) of Houston, Texas; and grandchildren, Ellie, Andrew, Austin, Jordi and Max (all of whom referred to him affectionately as "G-Dad").

Rick attended St. Christopher's School and Hargrave Military Academy as a young man and later attended Hampden-Sydney College where he majored in chemistry.

His career of forty years with Occidental Chemical Corporation was spent in environmental compliance management at the company's plants worldwide. In fulfilling these responsibilities, he had extended residencies in New York, Texas, Singapore, and the Philippines, along with several other brief stays in locations around the world.

After his retirement in 2003, he returned to Virginia to reside in Goochland County where he embarked on a new much-loved "career" upon a giant John Deere tractor caring for friends' and neighbors' farms, building fences, responding to their emergencies, and plowing snow-covered roads. He never turned down a request for help and developed a legion of friends who relied on him. He was reprising a childhood love of farm life, driving a red Farmall Cub tractor at the age of eight on the family farm, Vinita, now the site of Benedictine College Preparatory on River Road, Goochland, Va.

At a future date, a memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Goochland County, with burial in the churchyard adjoining his father, mother, and sister.

The Evans-Haynes Burn Center at VCU, founded by his father in 1947, was the first civilian burn center in the United States. Rick worked summers in the center as a college student. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Evans-Haynes Burn Center, Critical Care Hospital, 8th Floor, 1213 E. Clay Street, Richmond Va. 23298. Make checks payable to the MCV Foundation, and indicate funds to be directed to the Evans-Haynes Burn Center.