Walter Stewart Davis III

Davis, Walter Stewart III On December 13, 2009, Walter Stewart Davis III passed away peacefully at the age of 60, after a courageous three-and-a-half year battle with brain cancer. Stew is survived by his loving family. Beloved husband of Sandy (nee MacDonald). Loving and devoted father to Brian (Kristi) and Cindy. Proud grandfather of Piper. Cherished son of Betty and the late Walter S. Davis II. Survived by brothers, sisters, uncle, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Stew was born on May 22, 1949, in Evanston, IL, and grew up in Elm Grove, WI. On June 26, 1967, he entered the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) with the Class of 1971 in pursuit of his boyhood dream of becoming an astronaut. At the USAFA, he excelled in all aspects of Academy life, being named to the Superintendent's List numerous times and rising to the rank of Squadron Commander. On June 9, 1971, Stew graduated as a distinguished graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a triple major in Astronautical Engineering, Mathematics, and Engineering Sciences. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force (USAF) and proceeded directly to Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Astronautics and Aeronautics. In December 1971, Stew married the love of his life, the former Sandra Ann MacDonald of Pewaukee, WI, his high school sweetheart. They rejoiced at the births of their son Brian Stewart Davis and their daughter Cynthia Mae Davis. Following graduation from Purdue, Stew attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas and Pilot Instructor Training at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. His training was followed by assignment as a T-37 Instructor Pilot at Moody Air Force Base, GA. In August 1975, he returned to the Colorado Springs area as an Astronautical Engineer assigned to the NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Underground Command Post. At NORAD, he led the project team that designed and developed the Initial Orbit Module for the Space Computational Center. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for his service at Moody and the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his service at NORAD. On April 15, 1978, Stew resigned his commission as a Captain in the USAF and returned to Milwaukee to join a business that his maternal grandfather had founded in 1920. Stew joined Grede Foundries, Inc. on May 1, 1978, as a management trainee, eventually rising to the position of Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Grede Foundries, Inc. In his 31-year career at Grede, Stew will be remembered most for promoting and providing an environment of positive employee relations free from unions for the many thousands of Grede employees. In 1986, he earned an MBA degree in the Executive Program from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. In addition to his military and business accomplishments, Stew served a number of civic and educational organizations on a volunteer basis, including Board Chairman of Brookfield Academy, First Vice Chairman of Goodwill Industries of Southeast WI, Trustee of Lakeland College, Trustee of the Foundry Educational Foundation, and Board Manager of West Suburban YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee. Stew was also a life-long member of First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, where he served on the Governance and Personnel Committees. Stew was a man of few, but well-chosen, words-he preferred to be heard through his broad vision and his bold action. Yet, regardless of your rank, station, title, or position, whenever you were with Stew, you knew you were with a friend. Stew lived his entire life with purpose, courage, dignity, style, grace, and a sense of humor. His life is a shining example of the USAFA motto: Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do. Well done, good and faithful servant. Rest in peace. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Zilber Family Hospice in Wauwatosa, for the kind and loving care Stew received in his final days. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Brookfield Academy, First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, Goodwill Industries of Southeast Wisconsin, or West Suburban YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee, are appreciated. Visitation, Friday, December 18, 4-8 PM at Becker Ritter Funeral Home, 14075 W. North Ave., Brookfield, WI 53005. Memorial Celebration, Saturday, December 19, 3 PM (visitation and reception to follow) at First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, 1511 Church Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53213.
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