Eileen Phelps Evans
Eileen Phelps Evans was born on Nov. 27, 1924 in Jennings, LA, to Dewey E. Phelps and Thelma Hervey Phelps. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority and several honorary fraternities at Louisiana State University (LSU). She also participated in LSU drama productions working with makeup and properties. She received a degree in speech and taught speech for one year at Louisiana Tech University (1946 – 1947). While teaching at Louisiana Tech she met and married James Wilburn Evans on June 18, 1947.
She was very active in the life of the local congregations at First Presbyterian Church of Oyster Bay, NY, and the Presbyterian Church of Ruston. She was an ordained elder and deacon and served in various leadership roles on the church Session and Board of Deacons. She was active in Presbyterian Women.
Eileen was a member of the building committee for the fellowship hall addition to the church building here in Ruston. She served as a commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) while a member of the Oyster Bay church. For 15 years she was Treasurer of the Long Island Presbytery (PCUSA).
Eileen was a member of Culture Guild of Ruston and several local bridge clubs in Long Island and Ruston. She was an avid Broadway Theater goer in New York as well as local theater at Louisiana Tech, RCT in Ruston, and Strauss Theatre in Monroe. For their 50th Wedding Anniversary James and Eileen made a “round-the-world” trip with Abercrombie and Kent. She always described this trip as the highlight of her travels with her husband — a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, James Wilburn Evans. She is survived by her son, James Wilburn Evans, Jr. of Ruston, LA.
A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Ruston at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019. A reception with light refreshments will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make memorial gifts to Presbyterian Church of Ruston, 212 North Bonner St., Ruston, LA 71270 or Christian Community Action, 108 South Bonner St., Ruston, LA 71270.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.
