Obituary of Alan G. Evans

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Alan George Evans, 82, of Brookeville, Maryland, who passed away peacefully on January 5, 2025, in his home, surrounded by loved ones. Alan was born on June 8, 1942, in Chester, Pennsylvania to Thomas Leslie and Margaret Jane (Jennie Lewis) Evans.

Alan attended Chichester High School, graduating in 1960, Widener University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1964, and Drexel University, earning a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1967 and a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering in 1972. He served most of his career, 37 years, as a civilian Electrical Engineer and Project Manager at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Department of Defense. During his passionate career researching and supporting the development of using Global Positioning System (GPS), he demonstrated the very first basic use of the GPS phase measurements to achieve high-accuracy position changes. Through his contribution to advancing GPS development, he has 6 navigation-related U.S. Patents, has authored or co-authored 64 papers (100 presentations) at national or international navigation and geodetic conferences, 7 invited papers in academic journals, and co-authored a historical paper on the development of GPS. He received the Defense Mapping Agency Research and Development Award in 1989 and the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award in 2007. During the 1983-84 academic year, Alan completed a sabbatical as an Assistant Professor at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Alan was honored as a fellow of The Institute of Navigation in 2013 for his innovative developments and demonstrations in navigation and geodetic sciences. Following retirement, Alan worked an additional 7 years for the Penn State University Applied Research Laboratory.

Alan was a dreamer, often finding joy in discovering solutions to simple and complex problems. He found great joy in spending time with his family and friends, playing the piano, watching football games, reading the bridge column, woodworking, traveling the globe, and spending time in his beloved Ocean City, New Jersey. He will be remembered for his love of music, his genuine kindness, his innovation and creations, and his dedication to those around him.

Alan is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Barbara Lee (Kilhefner) of Brookeville, Maryland, his sister, Barbara Jane (Evans) Christopher of Tamarac, Florida, his son Christopher Evans of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and daughter Jennifer Evans, married to Dennis Norkiewicz, of Brookeville, Maryland, his grandchildren, Bryson and Morgan Evans and Luke and Dylan Norkiewicz, and his three nieces and three nephews.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 9:00-10:00AM at Pagano Funeral Home, 3711 Foulk Rd, Garnet Valley, PA, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 10:00AM. Friends and family are welcome to attend and share memories of Alan. Interment will take place at Lawn Croft Cemetery in Linwood, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either of the following beloved organizations in Alan Evans' memory: Drexel University, College of Engineering at (www.giving.drexel.edu/Evans), or Montgomery Hospice at (www.montgomeryhospice.org/donate-now/)

Alan often shared advice to "Stay Focused" with his kids and grandkids.

Rest in peace, dear Alan. You will be deeply missed and forever loved.

The Celebration of Life Service can be viewed at 10 am by CLICKING HERE or by viewing the video that will appear below.