Smith, Dr. Evan Ellis

Dr. Evan Ellis Smith, 82, passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday evening, April 19, 2011, surrounded by his three loving children, after a determined battle with lymphoma. A private memorial service for the family has already taken place. Per his wishes, Evan's body was donated to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for medical research. A celebration of Evan's life will be held for all family and friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at Black Stone Restaurant, 503 Westbury Dr., Iowa City.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed in Evan's name to either the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Iowa City Hospice, or, in honor of Evan's status as a first team All-State end for the champion Little Hawk football team of 1945, to the Stand-Up for City High Sports Complex Campaign through the Iowa City Community School District Foundation.

Evan was born Nov. 20, 1928, in Le Mars, Iowa, the fourth of five sons for Harold and Mary (Stout) Smith. The family moved to Iowa City in the early 1930s when Harold worked as a senior administrator at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Evan graduated in 1946 from Iowa City High School, where he was student body president and a top honor roll student. He was named to the 1945 First Team All-State Football Team as an end by the Iowa Daily Press Association at the conclusion of the Little Hawks championship season. He was also a forward on the Little Hawks 1946 Iowa State champion basketball team that earned a hard-fought, last-minute come-from-behind victory against Le Mars in the old Iowa Fieldhouse.

Evan attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 1950 from the College of Commerce. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and participated in ROTC. Immediately after graduation Evan briefly lived in Rochester, N.Y., selling medical supplies for Becton, Dickinson and Co. From 1951-1954, Evan served in the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of captain while stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. During his training he was selected for special assignment as a member of an elite team with the very secret and sensitive mission of rescuing the president from the White House in the event of a nuclear attack on Washington, D.C. After leaving the service, Evan entered dental school at the University of Iowa. He met Marylin Gilchrist during her days as a cheerleader at Iowa, and they were married on Aug. 7, 1955. Following graduation from dental school in 1958, Evan assumed the dental practice of Dr. Frank Whinery, located in the Iowa State Bank building on the corner of Clinton and Washington streets in downtown Iowa City. He moved the practice to Arthur Street in Towncrest about 1970 where he always worked diligently on behalf of his many loyal patients. Evan sold this practice in 1988 and, following a short stint working as a dentist for the state, bought the practice of his old dental school classmate Claude Harrison, in Mount Vernon. It was there he spent the last few years of his highly regarded career before retiring in 1999.

During the 41 years Evan devoted to the dental profession he held long-standing memberships in the American Dental Association, Dental Society, and Iowa Dental Association, serving as president of its University District. Among his local community and civic interests, Evan enjoyed volunteering for various fundraising activities and serving on the Alumni Advisory Board for Phi Kappa Psi. He was a voracious reader, loved jazz and classical music, was a lifelong Hawkeye fan, and always had a project going on somewhere out in the yard. Never one to shine the spotlight on himself, Evan did take joy in displaying his dry sense of humor at strategic moments.

Evan is survived by his son and two daughters: Elliott (Kay) and children Freddy and Sarah of Des Moines; Camilla Axelrood (Mike) and children Michael and Ava of Evanston, Ill.; and Stephanie and children Thad and Nate of Coralville. Evan is also survived by his brother, Truman of Franklin, Tenn.

Evan was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and brothers, Richard, Ellsworth and Norman.

The family wishes to thank the many wonderful friends who exhibited great kindness toward Evan and Marylin over the last several years; your heartfelt assurances and generous actions always meant a great deal to them. Thank you sincerely. We also want to thank the doctors and staff of the Oncology and Internal Medicine departments at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City Hospice, Caring Hands, and Home Instead Caregivers for providing much needed care and comfort during the most critical and stressful times.

Online condolences may be sent to Evan's family through the web at