Robert "Jody" J. Evans

Robert “Jody” Evans, 72, of Syracuse, passed away on Friday, September 23rd. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Syracuse at age 5 where he lived for the rest of his life. He worked in the optical field his whole life, first at Empire Vision, then Onondaga Optical, then Optogenics and finally US Optical. Jody loved music and enjoyed going out to see live music, especially the Syracuse area Blues Festival. He really liked sports, especially, baseball. Jody was an avid collector of memorabilia and enjoyed visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Most of all, Jody loved spending time with family, friends and beloved animals. Jody is predeceased by his parents; Robert and Monica Evans, brother; Fred Evans and sister; Cynthia (Cindy) Lang of Murrells Inlet, SC. Surviving are his wife of 43 years; Melanie (Stimer) Evans, daughters; Nicole and Shannon Evans, three grandchildren; Emilio, Shay and Morrison, brother; Daniel (Maria) Evans of Alabama, brother in law Mike Lang of South Carolina and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Calling hours will be held from 4 PM to 7 PM on Thursday, September 29th at Ballweg and Lunsford Funeral Home, 4612 S. Salina Street, Syracuse. Burial will be private in Onondaga Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jody’s memory to the SPCA, 5878 East Molloy Road, Syracuse, New York 13211