Rupert Nelson Evans M-B-24-3

URBANA – Rupert Nelson Evans, age 94, died Friday (April 24, 2015) at Meadowbrook Health Center in Urbana. He married Barbara Jean Barbre in 1941. After Jean's death, he married Mary K. Flora Farber in 2000. Mary K. passed away on April 3, 2015. Rupert is survived by his three daughters, Ellen Collins (Roger) of Hagerstown, Md., Catherine Westman (Ron) of Bellevue, Neb., and Nancy McNabb (Paul) of Champaign. He also leaves numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family will receive visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Drive West in Savoy. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, at Morgan Memorial Home. Rupert was born in Terre Haute, Ind., on April 6, 1921, the son of Loran Nelson and Hazel Rupert Evans. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Admiralty Islands. In 1946, he graduated from Indiana State Teachers College and began teaching high school vocational machine shop in Indiana. He then earned a Ph.D. in industrial psychology from Purdue University in 1950. Dr. Evans taught for 32 years at the University of Illinois, where he served as head of two departments and as dean of the College of Education. He was the major adviser for more than 50 doctoral students and was principal investigator on numerous funded research studies. He wrote 10 books and many articles on vocational and industrial education, teacher education and bookbinding. Dr. Evans also served as president of the UI Faculty Senate, and as a member of numerous all-university committees. He was a Fulbright Scholar at Yokohama National University (Japan) in 1957. He received four honorary doctorates. Dr. Evans was active in many academic and professional organizations. He was a presidential appointee to numerous national committees and served as chairman of the National Academy of Sciences Study Committee on Vocational Education Research. He also lectured and conducted research at various national and international universities. Rupert was also involved in a number of community volunteer activities. He was elected to two terms on the Champaign Unit 4 school board and served on the board of the C-U Habitat for Humanity. He served as a member of the Urbana Park District Advisory Committee and was the first president of the Urbana Free Library Foundation. Memorial contributions may be made to the Urbana Free Library Foundation, the UI College of Education or the Clark-Lindsey Village Friendship Fund.