Howard Evans

OLD ORCHARD BEACH – Lt. Col Howard Evans, he grew up in a factory town along the Southern Tier of New York State where many kids ended up working in the local shoe factory or a fledgling tech company that would one day become known as International Business Machines.

But Howard R. Evans took a different path, departing Endicott, N.Y., for a life of ministry in The Salvation Army. Along the way he profoundly influenced many lives from the Eastern part of the United States to Russia. Lt. Colonel Howard Evans died peacefully in his sleep on May 30, 2024, at Seal Rock Health Care in Saco.

Blessed with a keen mind, a voracious appetite for knowledge, a wry sense of humor, an abundance of musical talent and the gift of mentorship, Howard Evans lived a vibrant, fulfilling life during his 41 years as an active Salvation Army officer and even in post-retirement service.

Raised in a strong, Christian household, he dedicated his life to God at an early age. His father, Roy, an employee of the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad, instilled in him a formidable work ethic while his mother, Sadie, passed along her sense of humor along with a mischievous streak.

He also had a lifelong weakness for confections. His love for sweets as impishness would often converge at the expense of his three younger sisters. “He would tell his sisters that the raisins in the rice pudding were bugs so they would give their dessert to him,” said Howard’s niece Rosemary.

The levity and innocence came against a backdrop of a world torn apart by war and, at the age of 16, Howard, like many kids his age, enlisted in the military. He joined the Navy following high school but had to wait until his birthday in July to become active. Recognizing his skills as a musician, the Navy quickly sent him to school to learn a new technology sonar, which was based on the ability to identify enemy submarines through various sound pitches. Howard was stationed in the Gulf of Maine aboard the USS McDougal where his newly learned abilities helped erase the scourge of the North Atlantic, the German U-boats. He rose to the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and firmly cemented his legacy as part of the now dwindling “Greatest Generation.”

Soon after his discharge he enrolled in college to study music and eventually found his way to the New York City area where he was hired as the Divisional Bandmaster. It was there that he met his future wife, the beautiful and musically talented, Betty Valentine. The daughter of Salvation Army officers, Betty had much in common with Howard. “We were both raised in The Salvation Army,” explained Howard in a newspaper article published in 2008. “We share the same Christian faith and I would be lying if I said that hasn’t strengthened our relationship. And, also, I found her very attractive from day one – with beautiful red hair.”

Howard Evans taught music and was a member of the famed New York Staff Band. It was a fertile musical time for him. While studying with Erik Leidzen, he composed two Salvation Army classics, the march “Tremont” and cornet trio “Sweetest Name.” Betty was a gifted vocalist, training for a professional music career. However, God had other plans for them. After marrying on Sept. 3, 1949, they returned briefly to Binghamton, N.Y., and then answered God’s call to become ministers in The Salvation Army, entering the School for Officer Training in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1950. The Evans were commissioned as lieutenants as part of the Ambassadors Session.

From 1951 until their retirement in July of 1992 they served throughout The Salvation Army’s Eastern Territory, raising a family of five children while ministering in a diversity of roles. Their first appointment in 1951 was to the Wilmington, Del., Citadel Corps in the Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Division. They remained in the same division for the next nine years, serving as Corps Officers at the Darby, Pa., Corps and the Bethlehem, Pa. Corps. It was in Bethlehem, Pa. where Howard completed his academic journey, receiving his bachelor’s degree from Moravian College.

In the summer of 1960 The Salvation Army appointed Evans to the Northern New England Division where Howard became the Financial Secretary at the Divisional Headquarters in Portland. Along with his business duties, Howard also continued to use his musical training, establishing a divisional brass band and nurturing the musical abilities of his children. It was a family routine to use those musical skills in ministering at corps throughout the division.

Following his tenure in Northern New England, then Captain Howard Evans was appointed as Divisional Youth Secretary in the New Jersey Division, overseeing such youth activities as summer camp and the New Jersey Youth Band. Evans accompanied the Youth Band on a tour of England in 1968, performing at the Royal Albert Hall among other venues.

In 1968, Howard Evans was promoted to Major and returned to the Eastern Pennsylvania Division in administrative roles as Divisional Secretary and then General Secretary. He remained there until 1971 when the Evans moved to the Western Pennsylvania Division headquartered in Pittsburgh.

Major Evans was moved back East to the Greater New York Division in 1975 for a brief appointment as General Secretary for Institutions and Social Services. A year later he was appointed as Divisional Commander for the Southern New England Division where he served until 1982. That year he was sent to the Southwest Ohio and Northeast Kentucky Division where he served in the same role.

His final appointment as an active Salvation Army officer came in 1987 when he was appointed Training Principal for the College for Officer Training in Suffern, N.Y., while being promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. A natural leader with a thirst for knowledge and an ability to effectively communicate with the cadets at the college, Lt. Col. Evans thrived in this environment. He was beloved by his students who appreciated his calm demeanor, his passionate sense of mission and inspirational mentoring. Many of them rose to the highest ranks of Salvation Army leadership – an enduring legacy to Lt. Col. Evans.

While he officially retired in 1992, Lt. Col. Evans was not finished with his service to The Salvation Army. General Eva Burrows, then International Leader of The Salvation Army, challenged him to use the skills he developed in Suffern to become a pioneer in Russia, taking advantage of the recently opened borders and political change in Eastern Europe to establish a new Institute for Officer Training. Lt. Col. Evans eagerly embraced his appointment, adored his new cadets and often referred to his brief time in Russia as a highlight of his ministry.

In 1993 Lt. Cols. Howard and Betty Evans returned to Northern New England in retirement, settling in their beloved Old Orchard Beach where they had vacationed with the family for many years. He was very active in The Salvation Army’s Old Orchard Beach Corps and occasionally helped with advisory board development and fundraising in the division.

Howard was fortunate to marry Lt. Col. M. Joan Bamford in 2012. They shared 11 years as husband and wife, residing in Old Orchard Beach. Howard and Joan continued to be active in The Salvation Army there, where they had many friends and enjoyed these years together.

Lt. Col. Evans will be remembered as a man of great intellect and integrity who dedicated his life to serving the Lord where that may have led him.

He is survived by his wife Joan, of Old Orchard Beach; son, Lindsay of Verona, N.J., son, Craig of Old Orchard Beach, daughter, Carolee of Verona, N.J., son, Ian of Verona, N.J., and son, Keith of Middletown, Conn. He is also survived by a sister, Edith, of Binghamton, N.Y.; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Betty Valentine.

A private family ceremony is planned for Laurel Hill Cemetery, Saco, on June 14. Future plans for a public Celebration of Life will be announced in the coming weeks.

Messages of condolence may be sent to Joan Evans, 8 Kavanaugh Rd., Old Orchard Beach, ME, 04064 or via email at hevans3224@gmail.com.

Dennett, Craig and Pate Saco are entrusted with his services.

Donations can be made in his memory to

The Salvation Army,

2 Sixth St.,

Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064

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