Edwin D. Davis M.D.

Daytona lost a great visionary and medical pioneer, Dr. Edwin D. Davis, who founded Florida Health Care Plan. He passed away Tuesday afternoon, July 18, 2017. The establishment of Florida Health Care Plan would not have happened without the perseverance of Dr. Edwin Davis. Despite the obstacles hurled at him, he prevailed and produced what is now known as Florida Health Care Plan. From humble beginnings in a trailer at 350 Clyde Morris Blvd., Dr. Davis applied for a $75,000 grant, accompanied with loans from out of state banks, to produce the building that still stands at the original location where it services many Volusia County residents. It later became the first federally qualified HMO in Florida. Dr. Davis served as Florida Health Care Plan's President and Medical Director for most of the period from its founding until it was sold to Halifax Hospital in 1994. Dr. Davis graduated high school from Greenbriar Military Academy in Lewisburg, WV. He played trombone in the band and was an avid life-long fan of big band music. He loved to play tennis; and played the game from his teen years all the way into his 80s. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant. He learned to fly planes in the service, with most of his experience in multi-engine bombers, including the B-24, B-25 and B-29. Dr. Davis attended medical school at Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. He did his internship at Charleston General Hospital in Charleston, WV, followed by a one year residency in general surgery at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Medicine. Then he completed a three year residency in orthopaedic surgery at Philadelphia General Hospital. Dr. Davis opened a practice in orthopaedic surgery in Daytona Beach in 1958. He practiced orthopeadic surgery here for more than 40 years and during that time published several papers on innovative surgeries. Dr. Davis had hundreds of hours as an instrument rated private pilot in more than 50 years of having owned and flown everything from a single engine amphibious airplane to a private jet. He was a world traveler but he had a special connection to Peru where he was a guest speaker on multiple occasions at the universities in Lima. His marriage in 1945 to Virginia Williamson produced three children, Dianna Davis Dyer, Barbara Davis Preslock and Edwin Dyer Davis II. Unfortunately, Virginia passed away in 1957 leaving Dr. Davis with three young children as he was completing his medical education. After moving to Daytona Beach to establish his orthopaedic practice, he met and married Sandra Wood and they had a daughter, Edwinna Davis Morrin. Later Sandra succumbed to a battle with cancer leaving Dr. Davis as a single parent continuing his dual role as an orthopaedic surgeon combined with focusing on the development of Florida Health Care Plan. In 1981, Dr. Davis married his current wife Martha Dean (Deanie) Davis and they have been happily married for 36 years. Their two families became one adding Deanie's daughters Leslie Dean Hoppes and Jennifer Bruns Powers. Dr. Davis is survived by his wife, Deanie Davis, along with their six combined children, 17 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. A celebration of his amazing life is planned for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 12, 2017, at Christ Presbyterian Church. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the development of a memorial garden at Christ Presbyterian Church, 1035 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach, FL 32174. The celebration of life continues at Oceanside Country Club, 75 N. Halifax Dr., Ormond Beach, FL 32176 immediately following the church service.