Duncan L. Evans of Williamsburg, Virginia passed away at home on August 16, 2023 surrounded by his family. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Rebecca; his brother, James and his wife Nazila and his children Elizabeth and Duncan; his brother David and his wife Toos and their children Kate and Nick; his sister Alison and her husband Marc.
Duncan grew up in Leonia, New Jersey. He loved the outdoors, particularly the Chateaugay Lakes in the Adirondacks in New York, where he spent his summers. Duncan loved to fish, swim long distances, and water ski.
From a young age Duncan was an athlete. He played quarterback on his high school football team, was captain of the wrestling team, and ran track. He attended Gettysburg College where he was a member of the wrestling team and served as the chapter president for the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
Duncan joined Gettysburg’s R.O.T.C. program, continuing the long family tradition of military service. After graduating college in 1963, Duncan served as an officer in the Army Medical Service. His grandfather and father, both physicians, served as medical officers in the Army during the world wars and his brother, a physician, served as a medical officer in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Duncan is descended from Capt. Joseph McClellan who served in the Revolution under General Lafayette and was a personal friend thereof. Duncan’s great- grandfather, Capt. Robert McClellan, C.S.A., served in the Civil War.
Duncan met his wife, Rebecca Wooster, in the summer of 1970 in the Hamptons, New York. They married at the United Nations Chapel in New York City in 1972. They remained married for fifty-one years. They shared a love of travel and visited over 100 countries together.
After his Army service, Duncan, a biology major in college, worked for a pharmaceutical company. He then saw a future in computers and founded a data processing consulting service he operated until his retirement at age 65.
After his retirement, Duncan took up bag piping and played with a band for several years. Just prior to his passing, he was given a final serenade by a local piper.
Duncan advocated for intelligent design, the scientific argument for the existence of God based on the premise that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause.
He maintained sobriety for forty years after facing his alcohol problem. He remained an active member of an anonymous self-help group through which he helped many others to attain and maintain sobriety.
Duncan was regarded as a gentleman by all who knew him. He was a good loyal husband, brother, and friend, and many will sorely miss him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations in Duncan’s memory be made to The Heritage Humane Society of Williamsburg.
A memorial service and reception for Duncan will be held Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, Virginia 23188.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com for the Evans family.
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