Virginia
Virginia Evans
d. September 4, 2013
Obituary for Virginia Bastien Evans
Our beloved mom, nanny and great-nanny peacefully ended her earthly journey on September 4, 2013.
Virginia (Bastien) Evans was born May 12, 1920 to George and Charlotte Bastien in Lewistown, Montana. She arrived just moments before her twin sister, Lois (Looie). The family continued to live in Montana, where another sister, Florence (Pat), was born two years later. That same year the family moved to Prosser, WA where her father had been offered a new position with the Old National Bank.
Virginia (Gin), Looie and Pat thoroughly enjoyed an active childhood in Prosser, where she learned to swim, play tennis, play golf and throw a baseball – not like a girl! As a youthful teenager she crossed paths with a young man, Bobby Evans, who was enough of a gentleman to walk her home after hitting her in the nose with a snowball. They would become lifelong sweethearts.
Virginia was active in Prosser High School, where she was on the tennis team, was selected “May queen”, and graduated with the Class of 1938. That fall she and Looie enrolled at Washington State College in Pullman. She excelled athletically and was selected as a member of both the swim team and Fish Fans, the school’s synchronized swimming team. After completing her two-year secretarial science course, she returned to Prosser, where she married her sweetheart, Bob Evans Jr., on September 14, 1940.
The young couple started married life in Prosser, but plans were interrupted with the onset of World War II. Bob joined the Army, and was eventually shipped overseas to the European front. Virginia lived in downtown Seattle and worked for Peoples Bank while awaiting her beloved soldier’s return.
In 1945, after Bob’s happy homecoming, he and his “Ginny” returned to their hometown of Prosser where they became parents of four children – Barbara, Kathy, Robert III and Ginger. Bob and his brothers opened the Evans Brothers Meat Market on Meade Avenue, where Virginia was their bookkeeper. As that business grew, the brothers eventually opened the Super Duper grocery store on Bennett Avenue, and Virginia continued as the bookkeeper. Years later another new store, Evans Brothers Market, was built, and Bob and Gin retired.
During her family’s growing years, Virginia was a very busy community volunteer and active mother. She was one of the first recipients of the P.O.L.Y. (Prosser Outstanding Lady of the Year) award, and helped coach the Prosser swim team. For many years she was chairman for the Miss Prosser and Prosser Junior Miss programs. Always a patriotic American, she was a loyal member of the American Legion Auxiliary all her adult life. She was also active in Chapter K of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church. Even in her 90s, Virginia enjoyed attending Bible study at her most recent residence, Sun Terrace in Prosser. Playing bridge was a lifelong hobby, and she enjoyed the companionship and competition of many bridge clubs over the years.
After their children were grown, Virginia and her sisters played golf regularly, vying in friendly competition in all the ladies’ tournaments. She and Bob made many friends playing in the couple’s “two-ball” league each week at the Lower Valley Golf Course, and thoroughly enjoyed golfing vacations. Even after rheumatoid arthritis took away her ability to play the game, Virginia’s first choice on television was always to watch the Golf Channel. She was a passionate supporter of the Prosser Mustangs and the WSU Cougars.
A lifelong Republican, Virginia supported the party wholeheartedly and volunteered with many campaigns. She and Bob felt honored to attend the inauguration of Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C. In the 1980s, Virginia was appointed as a trustee for Columbia Basin Community College, where she proudly served for several years. She also chaired the committee for the renovation of the Benton County courthouse, and was a staunch supporter to keep the courthouse in Prosser.
For more than nine decades she shared her enthusiasm and energy with her community and her family. She was well-known around Prosser for her fiery red hair, ready smile and always wearing pearls!
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Bob; her sisters, Looie Moore and Pat Smith, and their husbands Francis and Carl; by her granddaughter Kristin Evans, and her grandson Matthew Emerson.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Barbara (and Don) Olmstead of Grandview; Kathy (and Lou) Rabe of Crystal Lake, IL; Robert (and Carol) Evans of Kennewick, and Ginger (and L.J.) Emerson of Grandview; by her eight grandchildren, Carrie (and Mark) Hay, and their children Courtney, Sydnee, Kylie and Lexi; Donnie Olmstead, and his children Laynee, Donald, Carl and Walter; Benjamin (and Sarah) Rabe and their children Hayden, Cooper and Ellie; Andrew (and Alexis) Rabe and their son Connor; Maggie (and Drew) Chyterbok and their son, James; Kimberly (and Dave) Carlson; Christine (and Justin) Thompson and their son Rolin, and Joe (and Brianna) Emerson; and by many loving nieces and nephews.
A visitation for Virginia Evans will be held Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Prosser Funeral Home on Sheridan Avenue. A family graveside service will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Prosser Cemetery. Memorial services and a celebration of life for Virginia Evans will be Wednesday Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Prosser, WA. Memorials to honor her memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Prosser or to the charity of your choice. You may sign the online guest book and leave a message of condolence for the family at www.prosserfuneralhome.com
Rest in peace Mom.
Our beloved mom, nanny and great-nanny peacefully ended her earthly journey on September 4, 2013.
Virginia (Bastien) Evans was born May 12, 1920 to George and Charlotte Bastien in Lewistown, Montana. She arrived just moments before her twin sister, Lois (Looie). The family continued to live in Montana, where another sister, Florence (Pat), was born two years later. That same year the family moved to Prosser, WA where her father had been offered a new position with the Old National Bank.
Virginia (Gin), Looie and Pat thoroughly enjoyed an active childhood in Prosser, where she learned to swim, play tennis, play golf and throw a baseball – not like a girl! As a youthful teenager she crossed paths with a young man, Bobby Evans, who was enough of a gentleman to walk her home after hitting her in the nose with a snowball. They would become lifelong sweethearts.
Virginia was active in Prosser High School, where she was on the tennis team, was selected “May queen”, and graduated with the Class of 1938. That fall she and Looie enrolled at Washington State College in Pullman. She excelled athletically and was selected as a member of both the swim team and Fish Fans, the school’s synchronized swimming team. After completing her two-year secretarial science course, she returned to Prosser, where she married her sweetheart, Bob Evans Jr., on September 14, 1940.
The young couple started married life in Prosser, but plans were interrupted with the onset of World War II. Bob joined the Army, and was eventually shipped overseas to the European front. Virginia lived in downtown Seattle and worked for Peoples Bank while awaiting her beloved soldier’s return.
In 1945, after Bob’s happy homecoming, he and his “Ginny” returned to their hometown of Prosser where they became parents of four children – Barbara, Kathy, Robert III and Ginger. Bob and his brothers opened the Evans Brothers Meat Market on Meade Avenue, where Virginia was their bookkeeper. As that business grew, the brothers eventually opened the Super Duper grocery store on Bennett Avenue, and Virginia continued as the bookkeeper. Years later another new store, Evans Brothers Market, was built, and Bob and Gin retired.
During her family’s growing years, Virginia was a very busy community volunteer and active mother. She was one of the first recipients of the P.O.L.Y. (Prosser Outstanding Lady of the Year) award, and helped coach the Prosser swim team. For many years she was chairman for the Miss Prosser and Prosser Junior Miss programs. Always a patriotic American, she was a loyal member of the American Legion Auxiliary all her adult life. She was also active in Chapter K of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church. Even in her 90s, Virginia enjoyed attending Bible study at her most recent residence, Sun Terrace in Prosser. Playing bridge was a lifelong hobby, and she enjoyed the companionship and competition of many bridge clubs over the years.
After their children were grown, Virginia and her sisters played golf regularly, vying in friendly competition in all the ladies’ tournaments. She and Bob made many friends playing in the couple’s “two-ball” league each week at the Lower Valley Golf Course, and thoroughly enjoyed golfing vacations. Even after rheumatoid arthritis took away her ability to play the game, Virginia’s first choice on television was always to watch the Golf Channel. She was a passionate supporter of the Prosser Mustangs and the WSU Cougars.
A lifelong Republican, Virginia supported the party wholeheartedly and volunteered with many campaigns. She and Bob felt honored to attend the inauguration of Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C. In the 1980s, Virginia was appointed as a trustee for Columbia Basin Community College, where she proudly served for several years. She also chaired the committee for the renovation of the Benton County courthouse, and was a staunch supporter to keep the courthouse in Prosser.
For more than nine decades she shared her enthusiasm and energy with her community and her family. She was well-known around Prosser for her fiery red hair, ready smile and always wearing pearls!
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Bob; her sisters, Looie Moore and Pat Smith, and their husbands Francis and Carl; by her granddaughter Kristin Evans, and her grandson Matthew Emerson.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Barbara (and Don) Olmstead of Grandview; Kathy (and Lou) Rabe of Crystal Lake, IL; Robert (and Carol) Evans of Kennewick, and Ginger (and L.J.) Emerson of Grandview; by her eight grandchildren, Carrie (and Mark) Hay, and their children Courtney, Sydnee, Kylie and Lexi; Donnie Olmstead, and his children Laynee, Donald, Carl and Walter; Benjamin (and Sarah) Rabe and their children Hayden, Cooper and Ellie; Andrew (and Alexis) Rabe and their son Connor; Maggie (and Drew) Chyterbok and their son, James; Kimberly (and Dave) Carlson; Christine (and Justin) Thompson and their son Rolin, and Joe (and Brianna) Emerson; and by many loving nieces and nephews.
A visitation for Virginia Evans will be held Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Prosser Funeral Home on Sheridan Avenue. A family graveside service will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Prosser Cemetery. Memorial services and a celebration of life for Virginia Evans will be Wednesday Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Prosser, WA. Memorials to honor her memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Prosser or to the charity of your choice. You may sign the online guest book and leave a message of condolence for the family at www.prosserfuneralhome.com
Rest in peace Mom.
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