Orval Evers was born on September 8, 1925, the son of Charles Neil and Susan Evers, of Lakeshore Road, Camlachie, Ontario. The Evers family moved to Sarnia from Kitchener when the rubber plant was started in Sarnia in 1942. Prior to enlisting, Orval was employed at Electric Auto-Lite Limited. Single at the time, Orval enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. At the time, he recorded his permanent residence as 507 Victoria Street, Kitchener. Orval received his training in the vicinity of Montreal and Halifax. Later, he was transferred from Prince Edward Island to Quebec. In May 1944, Orval would spend a furlough in Sarnia with his parents, family and friends. One month later on June 13, 1944, Orval would go overseas, as a member of RCAF #514 Squadron “Nil Obstare Potest” (Nothing can withstand), attaining the rank of Pilot Officer-Air Gunner. Orval Evers would fly in Lancasters. Less than one year after going overseas, Orval would lose his life.

In September 1944, parents Charles and Susan Evers placed an announcement in the Canadian (Sarnia) Observer stating that their son, Sgt. Orval Evers, who had been overseas for three months, was celebrating his 19th birthday in England. Eight months later, on May 9, 1945, only one day after VE Day had been declared, Orval Evers was part of a 5-man crew aboard a Lancaster aircraft. The Lancaster aircraft took off from the airfield at Jovincourt, Belgium with 24 ex-prisoner of war British Army personnel as passengers, en route to England. The aircraft crashed near Roye Ami, France, killing all on board, including the crew. For Orval Evers, he had 11 flights to complete his tour of operations when VE Day was declared.

On May 3rd, 1945, parents Charles and Susan Evers in Sarnia would receive a letter from their son Orval Clare in which he said that he was flying food from England to Holland. Less than two weeks later, and one week after VE Day marking the end of war in Europe, Charles and Susan Evers would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing them that their son, Flight Sergeant Orval Clare Evers, has been reported missing, believed killed, as a result of flying operations on May 9. The message gave no further information. At the end of May 1945, Charles and Susan would receive confirmation of the report that their son was killed on active service. The official letter from Air Vice Marshal H.L. Campbell said,

Advice has been received from the Royal Canadian Air Force Casualties Officer, Overseas, that your son lost his life during flying operations on May 9, 1945. His body has been recovered together with five other members of the crew and twenty-five passengers. Among the crew members were two others as well as your son, who belonged to the Royal Canadian Air Force. They were Flying Officer Ray Bertram Hilchey, whose next-of-kin is his father, S.B. Hitchey, of 108 Lawrence Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Flt. Sgt. Robert MacPherson Toms, whose next-of-kin is his father, Edward Toms of 77 Botwood Road, Grand Falls, Newfoundland.

Orval Clare would later be officially listed as, Previously reported missing as a result of a flying accident, now reported killed, overseas (France). Perishing with Pilot Officer-Air Gunner Orval Evers, were air crew members P/O R.M. Toms (Newfoundland); F/Os R.B. Hilchey (Nova Scotia) and D. Beaton (RAF); and FS. A. McMurrugh (RAF). The passengers killed were Sgt. R.A. Adams, Pte. T. Anderson, Pte. W.L. Ball, Pte. S.J. Bayston, Cpl. E.L Belshaw, Pte. R.A. Betton, Lt. W.B. Campbell, Pte. R.E. Clark, Pte. W. Croston, Gnr. A.J.S. Crowe, Fus. H. Cummings, Pte. R. Danson, Rfn. T.J. Edwards, L.Cpl. G.W. Franks, Gnr. A.N. Labotske, Pnr. W.L. Lindheimer, Pnr. M. Maschit, Fus. O. Parkin, Gdsmn. J.A. Roe, Lt. E.T.T. Snowdon, Cpl. A.G. Thompson, Pte. R. Turnbull, Capt. R.W. Wheeler, and Pte. P. Yates. In late May 1945, a memorial service was held to honour Flt. Sgt. Orval Evers in the Pentecostal Church in Kitchener. Nineteen year-old Orval Evers is buried in Clichy Northern Cemetery, France, Plot 16, Row 12, Coll. Grave 7-18.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, M, N, 2C, 2D