Joseph Wade Davison

Joseph Wade Davison died on September 6, 2018, in Raleigh, North Carolina at the age of 96. He was a kind and generous person with a special knack for connecting with people. He was passionate about his career in the petrochemical industry and received a number of awards and honors for his work.
Joe Davison grew up in Bonner Springs, Kansas, and studied at the University of Kansas where he received a B.S degree in Chemical Engineering. Joe married his wife, Leatha, and they raised their two daughters, Teresa and Diane, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
He spent his career with Phillips Petroleum Company during a period of remarkable growth in the petrochemical industry. Davison was the author of 26 patents and a number of technical articles. An active Rotarian, he served as Rotary Club President and Chamber of Commerce President. Davison took a leave of absence from Phillips Petroleum in service to his country and joined the Navy during World War II. He was discharged as a LTJG.
During Davison's career, his rise through Research and Development culminated in the position of Vice President of R&D for Phillips. He was subsequently promoted to Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning and Development, a position he held until his retirement.
Joe Davison was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and was awarded the Institute's Founders Award. He served as president of the Board of Coordinating Research Council and he was a Vice Chairman of the U.S. National Committee of the World Petroleum Congress. He was involved in the Directors of Industrial Research and was Vice Chairman of the US National Committee of the World Petroleum Congress. Joe was also a member of the Business Advisory Committee of the National Association of Conservation Districts. He served on the boards of McNally Pittsburg Mfg. and the Accurex Corp.
Joe was a great supporter of his alma mater and served as Chairman of the KU Engineering School Business Advisory Committee. He was inducted into the Chemical Engineering Hall of Fame, and he received the Distinguished Engineering Service Award at KU.
Joe and his family were founding members of the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville, OK, and he served as Chairman of the Washington County United Way Fund Drive. After his retirement Joe and Leatha lived for many years in Denver, Colorado and Tucson, Arizona; they subsequently moved east to live in Raleigh, NC, and Naples, FL, where they were members of Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church.
Joe was an avid traveler and took many trips with his family and friends. He enjoyed attending Rotarian meetings around the world.
Joseph Wade Davison is survived by his wife, Leatha; daughters Teresa Davison Daniels of Raleigh, NC, and Diane L. Davison of Seattle, WA; three grandchildren, Kimberly Davison Daniels Taws and her husband John of Pinehurst, NC, Frank A. Daniels IV and his wife, Ellie of Southern Pines, NC, and Joseph Davison Daniels of Clarksville, TN; great-grandsons, Reed Taws and Whit Taws; his sister Doris Davison Ley of Dallas, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A private service will be held for family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the University of Kansas Endowment specifying the engineering school, https://www.kuendowment.org/Your-Gift/Areas-of-Support. Condolences may be made to the family at http://www.cremationsocietync.com/resource/obituary.