William R. DAVIS

DAVIS, William R. My dad, William Richard Davis, 87, passed away peacefully Wednesday, October 21, 2009. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 51 years, Alice McCracken Davis; his parents, William Richard Davis Sr. and Norvell Lipscomb Davis. He is survived by his son, William McCracken Davis and his wife, Susan; grandsons, Kevin Dwayne Davis and Kristopher Michael Davis; great-grandsons, Kristopher Jacob Davis, Kade Taylor Davis and Sean Anthony Davis. A graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, he started work on the chalkboards at Scott & Stringfellow in 1939 and went on to be a NASDAQ over-the-counter stock trader until retirement in 1987. Enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942, he was a B24 Bombardier with the 376 bomb group stationed in Italy. He took part in the Ploesti oil raids of 1944, was awarded the Purple Heart when shot down over Vienna on October 17, 1944 and had to ditch in the Adriatic Sea. He was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Award and the Air Medal. In 1951, he married my mother, Alice Nell McCracken. In 1958, he was one of the founders of Lakeside Volunteer Rescue Squad, the first president, and rode with the squad from 1958 to 1968. He was a stamp collector, enjoyed baseball and NASCAR racing. My dad was a perfect example of why they were called the greatest generation. He was the greatest dad and is now in peace with mama and happy again. The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bliley's-Staples Mill, 8510 Staples Mill Rd. A graveside service will be held Saturday, 11 a.m., at Westhampton Memorial Park.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.