Evelyn Newell Junkin
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Evelyn Newell Junkin, of Leesburg Virginia, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. She was 93 years young. She is pre-deceased by three children, Kate Sowers, William Junkin, Jr. and David Junkin as well as her brother Arthur Newell. Evelyn is survived by her son Tom and his wife Holly, of Charles Town, WV. She is also survived by six grandchildren whom she so dearly adored: Fernando Bolanos and girlfriend Jennifer Pagano, Katherine Sowers, David Sowers and wife Courtney, Tommy Junkin, McKenna Junkin and Becker Junkin and girlfriend Emma Forrest. Evelyn was the daughter of Arthur and Gladys Newell who immigrated to Weymouth from Newfoundland. She was born in 1928 and was raised in Weymouth, MA. Her father worked as a master brick layer and built their home from the ground up. She graduated from Bridgewater State University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Rather than taking a job as a teacher, she applied to and was offered a position with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1953. She was stationed in East Asia where she eventually met her husband Bill who worked for American Express. While serving in East Asia she gave birth to her two oldest children Kate in 1958 and Will in 1960. She resigned from the CIA in 1960 to focus on raising her family. After Bill took an assignment in Japan their third child David was born in 1963. Eventually they returned to the United States and settled down in Glen Rock, NJ where their last child Tom joined the family in 1965. After Evelyn and Bill divorced in the early 70s she spent many years working as a waitress at the Fireside Inn in Rochelle Park, NJ while raising her family, often working 6 nights a week. She also took on odd jobs with friends such as catering large events. In 1986, during Tom's senior year in college, Evelyn decided to re-apply to the CIA. She accepted a position as a desk officer with the agency and relocated to the Northern Virginia area. She was an outstanding employee and was lauded with numerous awards and accolades up until her retirement in 1994. She continued to work on and off over the next several years as a government contractor until she fully retired in 2011. Evelyn was truly the glue that held her family together. After moving to Virginia, all of her children slowly migrated south from NJ to be close to her. She became the sole care giver for her daughter Kate's three children, after her sudden passing in 2007, showering them with love and affection and helping mold them into the amazing young adults they are today. What Evelyn is best remembered for was her passion for the game of golf. She started playing golf in her fifties. She had a competitive drive to learn and excel at the sport. She took lessons as well as attended golf school in Pinehurst, North Carolina. She was a regular at the Herndon Golf Club participating and winning trophies in the club championships and women's leagues. But what she enjoyed most was playing with and teaching her family the game of golf, especially her grandchildren. She would frequently be seen driving out to Sleepy Hollow Golf Course in Harpers Ferry, WV in her Mini Cooper convertible with one of her grandchildren in tow and golf clubs in the back. She actively played golf into her 80's until she had to stop playing due to health reasons. Although unable to play, she continued to pass on tips and wisdom to her son and grandchildren. Rumor has it that upon entering through the gates of heaven, she started seeking out Arnold Palmer and other golf legends - challenging them to a round of golf! A celebration of Evelyn's life will be held at Colonial Funeral Home in Leesburg, VA on Friday July 8th, 2022 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following: American Heart Association; American Lung Association; or American Macular Degeneration Association.