William D. "Bill" Evans, a retired National Security Agency linguist who also maintained an interest in archaeology, died Wednesday of cancer at his Arnold home. He was 85.
William David Evans was born in Midway, Ky., and later moved with his family to Bethesda.
During World War II, he served with an infantry unit, and after the end of the war, entered the University of Maryland on the G.I. Bill, where he earned his law degree.
Mr. Evans went to work for the NSA in 1954 and later learned Russian and Bulgarian, family members said. He retired in 1984.
He married the former Dorothy Osmond in the late 1940s, and after her death in 1984, he moved to Nimbres, N.M., where he enjoyed archaeology and participating in digs.
Mr. Evans also liked visiting historic sites and interesting rock formations found in the Southwest.
He moved back to Arnold in 2000 to be near family members, and attended classes at Anne Arundel Community College. He was an avid reader.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Rockville Cemetery, 1350 Baltimore Road.
Mr. Evans is survived by two sons, David Evans of Rexburg, Idaho, and Gary Evans of Strongsville, Ohio; a daughter, Jean Stachowiak of Severna Park; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.