Virgil Palmer Evans Junior, father, brother, educator, musician and friend, passed away after a long battle with cancer on April 11, 2025, just shy of his 80th birthday, in Los Osos, California. He was born on November 23, 1945, in West Point, New York, where his father, Virgil Evans Sr., (along with his wonderful wife, Bea), was serving in the US Army as a musician in the West Point Band.
Virg Sr. and Bea soon moved West, so Virg Jr. and his younger brother Bill spent their childhoods in California’s San Fernando Valley.
Virg attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks and California State University, Northridge, before embarking on a postgraduate journey to England, where he studied at King’s College, University of London, and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree. As a newly ordained Episcopal priest, Virg was assigned to The Bishop’s Preparatory School in San Diego.
But as with many commitments in life, the priesthood ran its course, so Virg left that vocation, eventually becoming a secondary school teacher and counselor. He taught Latin at Villanova High School in Ojai and was a counselor for the LA Unified School District at Monroe High School in Sepulveda. But he spent most of his later counseling years in the Yolo County Department of Education, in Bishop, California, where he served as the district’s sole academic counselor.
Like his father, a career trumpet player and member of the recording session legends, “The Wrecking Crew,” Virg Jr. became a professional musician in his youth. He was a top call 5-string banjo player, and while in high school, he played regularly at Disneyland. He also toured or performed with Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Judy Garland, Buck Meadows and Tennessee Ernie Ford, as well as playing on many TV shows and recording sessions, (banjo, guitar and trumpet) with other top notch session musicians. Like his dad, Virg was a proud member of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 47, Los Angeles.
In The Church Hill Singers, a legendary Folk quartet in the 60's that also included three other dubious NDHS graduates: Gene Meyer, Chuck Collazzi and Dick Perry, Virg was the star, the banjo picker renoun, and he got us many gigs, especially Disneyland.
Virg is predeceased by his wife, Cheryl. He is survived by his four children: daughter Jessica, son Chris, and twin daughters Elizabeth and Rebecca. Virg is also survived by his brother Bill Evans of New York, and wife, Susan).
Virg’s passing reminds us to treasure our family and friends, and to always stay in touch with each other.
Requia scat en pacem…Rest in peace.
After high school, we all went on to higher paid union gigs and tours, so Virg ended up working with the likes of Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Judy Garland, Tennessee Ernie Ford, as well as playing on many TV shows and recording sessions, (banjo, guitar and trumpet) with other top notch session musicians.
But Virg also had a serious spiritual side, full of philosophy and religion. In 1968, he was accepted to King’s College, University of London, where he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree. This made him an Episcopal priest. He was assigned to The Bishop’s Preparatory School in La Jolla, where he stayed for 3 years. But the priesthood wasn’t for him.
Virg left the priesthood and, after a stint in the Ventura County Fire Department, became a high school counselor. He worked in Southern California (Monroe HS, Villanova Prep), but he spent most of his counseling years up north in the Bishop school district, (Yolo County Department of Education).
The Kingston Trio? All deceased. Bud and Travis? Adios. The Limeliters? All dead. Peter Paul and Mary? Gone to the Promised land. The Church Hill Singers? We just lost our first and youngest!
Virg is survived by his four cool children: daughter Jessica, son Chris, and twin daughters Elizabeth and Rebecca. Virg is also survived by his brother Bill Evans of New York, and his wife, Susan. I must conclude by mentioning (he would want it) that Virg converted to Catholicism at about age 50 and remained a devout Catholic for the remainder of his life).
So long, Junior. Let me know if they have sub sandwiches where you're going!
Gene Meyer
