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Robert Davis Obituary
Following his service in the United States Navy and many years in the airline industry, Bob retired as a DC-10 Captain with Emery Worldwide.
He was a member of Fellowship Church and enjoyed volunteering in their children's ministry. He loved sharing stories about his travels, spending time caring for his garden, sharing his love of collecting toy cars and electric trains and cooking. He was known for his unforgettable, outlandish stories and spontaneous silly songs, rhymes and phrases.
Bob's greatest joy and passion was spending time with his children and grandsons. He added excitement and lasting memories to the lives of everyone around him; and will be missed immeasurably.
His loving family includes daughters, Jennifer Danice Steubing and her husband John, and Kathryn Diane Davis; mother Betty Jane Lyon; grandsons, Samuel and Benjamin Steubing and Jackson Perkins; sister Marjorie Adams and husband Bob; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and brothers, Bill and John Davis.
Funeral services will be 2:00 pm, Friday, September 18, 2015 at Sparkman Richardson Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 12:30-2:00 pm, Friday, September 18, 2015, prior to the service.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Patrick Barge
May 15, 2016
Dear Katy and Jenny, I just learned of Bobby's passing. He was a great friend and always had a great laugh! I always enjoyed his stories...especially about Hank Jr. He loved you two with all of his heart and spoke of you often. I am so sorry for your loss. Godspeed to you and your family!
Gary Herron
January 12, 2016
Dear Katy and Jenny, I can't describe the shock and sadness I felt when I heard the news about my dear friends passing. Bob and I were in the Navy together and developed a life long friendship even though we didn't get to spend much time together in our later years. During our conversation this past summer we committed to visit and meet for an occasional lunch but as usual life dealt us a different hand . Most of our adult lives were dedicated to our families but our earlier lives enabled us to bond like brothers. I will tell you girls all those wild stories that happened in the Navy were all true at least as best we could remember under the circumstances. I miss him already, we were planning a reunion of our old shipmates in VT-29 NAS Corpus Christi next March and Bob will be missed to say the least. You girls are to young to remember me but I would always stay with Bob anytime I got to Houston and enjoyed it so much. Just know you girls absolutely changed his life and I must say for the better. God Bless you!
Katy Davis
October 17, 2015
I want to post some of my favorite memories of my dad. I have been thinking about what to include and figured I would just start typing and see where this ends up. My hope is that one day my son will read these and have a good idea of the kind of guy my dad was.
In this last month I have dearly missed the phone calls that I would get from him multiple times a day. These phone calls would last anywhere from hours to only a few minutes. Dad would call me every time I was on the road (multiple times) to ask me where I was. He would call when I was trying to pack, trying to leave, and every 30 minutes I was driving. He often used to call and tell me what he was eating, what he was watching on tv, to tell me about his various bodily functions, funny commercials, every time he would send me an email, or about something my Nini was doing. My phone has been eerily silent since his death. I miss those phone calls that would sometimes drive me a little crazywhich, of course, he would always tell me was a short trip.
I have a lot of memories of my dad from my childhood. We used to go camping every year in New Braunfels on the Guadalupe River. We used to camp in the exact same spot every year. We fished, rode the rapids, bathed in the river, and explored the area. He used to sit with us in a specific spot and cheer people on as they wiped out, as they always would in this certain spot. On one trip to New Braunfels, I was hanging my blankie out the window while we were driving. He told me, If you drop that, I'm not going back to get it. The blankie flew out of my hand out the window and onto the highway. He didn't stop and I was very upset. So he took me to the first store in town and let me pick out a new one. It was pink with bears on it, and I still have it. Fishing. He used to take us fishing a lot. I don't actually remember catching a single thing, but we would go for hours. He used to tell me shhhhyou're going to scare the fish away. I think it was the only way he could get me to stay quiet at all.
I remember us cooking all the time with him. He let us throw noodles on the wall to make sure they were ready, and slap the turkey before putting it in the oven. I used to roller blade through his house back and forth eating a cherry each time I passed by the table and spitting the pit in the trash when I'd roll by. One time, we decided we were going to make Chinese food. He got a wok and all of the ingredients. We had no idea what we were doing and that resulted in the wok catching fire. He threw it out the door, on fire, shut the door and picked up the phone and said well, let's call Domino's. In college I used to call him to get recipes to make some of my favorite dishes that he used to make. He would always list the ingredients and say, put them together until it looks right, you'll know. He didn't really use recipes. To this day, I still cook like this.
I remember using his video camera to record everything. We used to sit and listen to his records together and dance. He would bring home trinkets from his trips all over the world with many stories of flying and his travels. He used to set up tea parties for Nini and me when she came to visit. He told me stories of his antiques and we would play with the mercury that was in his mercury clock. He taught me a lot about guns, fishing, and many of the things I love today. We would walk, or roller blade through the neighborhood by the witch's house and the deer. He had me convinced that a witch lived in a particular house because it was covered from the front with plants and completely fenced around. He also had me convinced that the deer in a certain yard in a neighborhood were real and I had to be very quiet to make sure I didn't scare them away. I was convinced of this for a long time. Finally I realized that these deer were indeed fake lawn decorations. Along with his many tall tales, he also had me convinced that Janis Joplin's song "Me and Bobby McGee" was about him. I still think about that every time I hear that song.
He used to set up coke bottles and spray paint cans (yes I know) on the gate so we could shoot them with the pellet gun. He'd just tell us not to get too close. Girls stand back! He would tell us this when he would spray the flames of the bbq pit with more lighter fluid to make the fire huge. We had this car. Shaky Jake we called this car and it was always on its last leg. Shaky Jake got the name because when you'd turn it off, it would do a little jig before it would completely turn off. So, Shaky Jake used to overheat a lot. We would stop at the gas station and dad would pop the hood. He'd always say Girls stand back! before he would twist the radiator cap off and jump back himself as it would erupt like Old Faithful. Then he'd add water and we'd be on our way.
He hated that I played football. He didn't talk to me all season. I always called and told him where my games were and what time. He finally came to the last game. I saw him in the stands from the field, and he left before I could talk to him. He was proud though, my football picture stayed in his wallet for 20 years. I have heard from a lot of people that he used to show that picture off a lot. He was always proud of us. He came to my cheerleading competitions, baseball games, soccer games, gymnastic meets, swim meets, theater performances, and everything he could. We spent summers on slip and slides, the trampoline, and the tire swing at his house. He always got us the biggest flocked Christmas trees every year. One Christmas we were hanging lights and he got stuck on a small gable part of the roof that overhung the front door of our house. He hollered for me and I had to pry the tiny window above the gable open with a crowbar (it was painted shut) so I could pull him in through the window. Those lights stayed up on that house as long as I could remember after thatthey are probably still there. He let us spray fake snow in the corners of all the windows in the house and that stayed up for as long as I can remember as well. We used to pick up pecans in the yard and make pies. He used to take us to Hobby Airport to watch planes take off and land for hours. He even took us to see Ronald Reagan fly in on Air Force One.
After Jackson was born, Dad would call all the time to ask what Jackson was doing. They only got to see each other a handful of times since Jackson was coming up on 7 months old when Dad died. The week before he died, Jackson and I were in Dallas visiting for the week. I was excited about this trip because Jackson was getting older and more engaged with people. We had a great week. Dad got to see Jackson crawl and got to hold him and spend a lot of time with us. My favorite memory from that trip was a couple of days before Dad died, we were having lunch. Jackson was in his stroller parked next to Dad and Dad was playing with Jackson. He was waving his finger in front of him and Jackson was trying to catch it. They were both smiling and laughing and looking into each other's eyes and enjoying each other's company. When I think of Dad and how much I miss him, I remember that moment. I am so happy to have that week to remember and that moment of them together. I hope Jackson will read all of this one day and will be able to enjoy his Pop through the memories I and everyone have of him. Mostly, I hope he understands how much his Pop loved him. I miss my dad very much and think about him every day. I know his memory lives on through the lives that he touched.
Oh yeah, one more thing. When I was 15, Dad told me and two friends to take the corvette and fill it up with gas then bring it home and wash it. He was going to the grocery store. We ended up backing it into a ditch in the neighborhood. We got it out, brought it home, washed it, backed it into the garage, and never told him that it happened. Sorry Dad, love you.
Lauren Morrison
October 13, 2015
Dating back to my earliest memory, Bob would always, without fail, have a $2 bill (yes, the rare ones) and a pack of Wrigley's Doublemint Gum for my sister Liz and me. I don't think I ever saw him without sticks of gum to hand out. He'd usually give these gifts with an off-the-cuff, sarcastic remark, but that is how he best delivered gifts!
Bob was known for his dry sarcasm. That type of banter extended to the majority of our conversations. He was always asking me, "When are you going to get a job?!" (even after I was employed). But, behind the sarcasm, he really did want to know and cared about my career, thus keeping me apprised of any possibilities about which he had heard (regardless of it being an industry in which he was unfamiliar).
He had a very special, playful, witty relationship with the boys (Jennifer's sons) that I know will not be soon forgotten.
Bob, you will be missed.
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Aileen Hockin
September 18, 2015
To Capt. Bobby Davis's family,
Thank you for sharing him with us. I flew with him at Emery. He was an amazing man with an amazing personality. We will all miss him and look forward to sharing hangar stories on the other side.
Capt. Hockin
Kenneth Siscon
September 18, 2015
I had the great pleasure of having Bob volunteer for me at Fellowship Church. He was one of my most favorite people, not because he served faithfully or because he was so great at what he did but because of how much fun I had with him. The stories he would tell about the navy about his adventures would have me rolling. He was just so funny. We would joke about the crummy kids and how he couldn't stand them, all while he had a twinkle in his eye and a grin on his face that told you how much he truly loved serving, the kids and all of the other volunteers. He was a rock, always dependable, always there with his coffee and have his blazer on ready to check in kids. And most importantly he was our friend, our Bob. On behalf of the 11:30 2nd-3rd grade room volunteer team, you were very much loved and will be very much missed.
September 18, 2015
To a great friend and fellow pilot. Here's to all the memories Bobby that you and I had on many, many lay overs drinking wine and telling a lot of Navy war stories about our experiences in the Navy.
Hope you have every lasting peace and we will all meet in the great place in the sky for sure.
Bob Cady (Santa Teresa, NM)
Kim Wisdom
September 18, 2015
I was Bobs Neighbor for 5 Years in Carrollton. I never knew a man that could give me such a hard time. Even when I moved his hard times to me would still come on Facebook. I loved this guy so much and I will miss those digs.
To the family, I am truly sorry for your loss and I prayfor peace to you all.
Bob you will be missed!!!
Joe Nwiba
September 17, 2015
Captain Davis and I flew together at Emery world wide Airline I was his Flight Engineer, we were based in Houston flying the DC-8 Aircraft, and later transitioned to the DC-10. He has a no nonsense approach to the field of Aviation, always focusing on the big picture, while keeping the cockpit lively and engaging, an attribute that makes a great Captain. He treated everyone with respect, he always has a joke about every and any situation, I am laughing as I type this, most of us know about his red dress jokes..One of his fun thing to do is that on all approach and landing, after the completion of landing checklist, he will turn around and ask me, if his hair looked OK or should he comb it, and I always tell him it looks OK, sometime he will comb it and then ask, On one occasion he forget to comb or ask me and the landing was a little bouncy, as we were taxiing in to park, he turned around and looked at me and I said what are looking at me for? you forgot to comb your hair, and he burst out laughing, I was so glad that I could make him laugh because he makes us laugh all the time. Some of his jokes could be rated PG so I can't tell it all here.
Bob remained a very good friend to me and my family after Emery when he moved to Lewisville TX. He is genuine to the core and kindness that goes unspoken and probably not recognized by many until you get to know the Man..During my period of unemployment after Emery shut down,Bob always come to our house with baskets of fruits and vegetables especially after he has been to the Farmers Market. He loves Farmers Market because he likes to cook, and my children loves to visit Bob. He always cook for them and they are always drawn to old bottled coke machine, they were young then.When I told my older daughter now 24, about Bobs passing the next thing she mentioned after the initial shock was the coke machine.
Bob is a proud father of two daughters Jenny and Katy, he loves them so dearly that he always talk about them all the time. I thought I saw him at his happiest moment when his daughter Jenny got married, until his grand children came into the world. He enjoys baby sitting them, there is always joyful story from him every time he baby sits and if I happened to be on the phone with him and he will be happily describing every move they make. Bob Davis one of a kind.
Captain Robert Davis may the blessings of the Lord find you in After Life as it did in Life.
I will never forget you Bob, R I P.
Jenny and Katy please accept my condolences.
Erin Sullivan-Smith
September 17, 2015
Katy,
I am so terribly sorry for you and your sister's loss. I have very many memories of your dad giving us rides on the boat, him letting us drive the Stingray (way too fast to be safe), and going to his house and him giving us nickels to get Cokes out of the machine. I remember him making us delicious fajitas for my birthday, and even convincing me to eat artichoke and his special dip for it. To this day, when I eat artichoke, it takes me back to the good times spent with you and him. :)
I hope you can find peace.
I love you Katy!
Don Maher
September 17, 2015
Bobby, boy am I gonna miss you my old friend... Have so many fond memories of flying all those late nite flights and you breaking my chops about how good Marines look in a Red Dress. I laugh everytime I think about it.. Fly safe my friend and look to see you on the other side down the road... Semper Fi!
Christina Thralls
September 17, 2015
Bob Davis - where do I start? I have so many fond memories and most of them stem from you treating me just like your own kiddo! From scolding Jenny and I about the corvette (for driving too fast) or boat (for not cleaning it properly) to making sure our tummies were always full! Whether it be a visit from you in college with a trip to Pappasitos or an all-out Thanksgiving type spread at your house with one of your delicious dinners, I always knew we would be well fed when you were around (Of course your salad and the vanilla bean ice cream with fresh strawberries before bed was always my favorite!) Your candidness was appreciated and always showed how much you loved Jenny and Katy. I will keep these memories always. You , your wholesome laugh and outrageous stories will be dearly missed.
Gil Barrera
September 17, 2015
I had the pleasure of flying with Bob while working at Emery. In my 26 year airline career, no one comes close as far as how much fun we had while we were on trips.
I really learned a lot about flying the old DC-8 from Capt. Bob. He would teach you by letting you screw up and then letting figure out how to fix it. In the meantime, while I was scrambling, his face would be turning red from laughing so hard.
I remember the class and generosity he showed me. I'll never forget one occasion in particular not long after I had become a Captain. For some reason, Bob did not have a First Officer on his trip and I was called from reserve to fly as his FO. Fully expecting to hop into the right seat, Bob handed me all the paperwork and told me I was Captain for the rest of the trip. Not much pressure having your mentor sitting in the right seat. Good thing Bob was a Captain because he sure made a terrible FO :) Just one of the many memories I have.
Katy and Jenny, your dad was very proud of you both. I week of flying didn't go by without him bringing us up to date on how you both were doing as you grew up. He truly cherished you both.
Godspeed on your your flight west
Curt olmstead
September 17, 2015
Good Ole Bob, I spent a few years with him and one thing for sure he loved his two little girls (Katy & Jenny). I know he will be missed. I never laughed so hard with Bob and the fun times we had together.
Lotoiti Nwiba
September 17, 2015
I was very sad, when my husband told me about the passing of Bob Davis . During the time my husband was flying for Emery, I know when
his Captain is Bob Davis, because of the excitement in his voice when I talk to him during one of his layovers , and I will ask " Are you flying with Bob?". I later get to meet Bob, what a nice person. My kids loved going to Bob's apartment with their Dad, because Bob always fix them food.
I will miss you Bob, and thanks for the fruit baskets. I hope there is a Farmers Market in heaven were you belong.
Fred Rosenberg
September 17, 2015
Have a great flight west Bobby... keep the shiny side up
Lorna Donnelly
September 17, 2015
Katy my heart aches for you and your family. I smile thinking about your dad and him welcoming us all into his home. He was such a kind man & a wonderful cook- I distinctly remember drinking the coca colas right out of the bottle from the old fashioned machine at his house, him cooking a fantastic homemade Mexican dinner for us all complete with homemade tortilla chips! Praying for you all and thankful for the sweet memories I have. I'm here if you need anything.
Capt. Rick Morrison, UAL (ret.)
September 17, 2015
Back in my "corporate" days of flying in the early '80's, I had the pleasure of working with and learning so much from Captain Bobby Davis, whose love of aviation truly helped shape my career, and for which I am very grateful.
Mack McCurry
September 16, 2015
I had the great fortune to live close to Bobby and visited him but not as often as I could have and wish I would have more. I shared a lot with Bobby about personal struggles and he ALWAYS supported me. I enjoyed his always full coffee pot and humor. I didn't like Bobby in my early years at Emery but after we agreed to disagree after a particular flight, we became great friends! Who couldn't like Bobby! I was in Japan when I got the news upon waking and cried all day.......Dang it Bobby, I miss you!
Barbara Standing
September 16, 2015
Bobby was one of my absolute favorite captains to fly with! We had a lot of fun flying the DC-10 during the good ole Emery US Postal contract days. Not many guys had the raw sense of humor that Bobby had. He will be dearly missed and I feel lucky to have known him.
Mitchell Allen
September 16, 2015
I flew with Bobbie at EWA until it closed and kept in touch whenever I could get to Dallas. I still remember flying into to DFO and there at midnight would be Bobbie with a big smile and a quick story. Our real friends never die they just Fly West for a Refill. It was not just an honor to have flown with him, but a real thrill to have lived those crazy night at the Hub. Capt. Mitch Allen
Ryan Rosenboom
September 16, 2015
It was a warm sunny day in the summer of 2002. I was headed to the home of Mr. Bob Davis to join him, his daughter Katy and some additional friends for a pleasant boat trip on Lake Lewisville. Being that I was from Mansfield and had been living in Lubbock the previous two years, attending architecture school, I was frightfully unfamiliar with the area. One thing to keep in mind is that this was before the time of iPhones and google maps st your fingertips so I was at the mercy of directions given to me by the natives. The natives being Bob. Another important fact to acknowledge is that Bob and I have never met before this point. What was to be a 35 minute trip ended up taking more than an hour. The last half of which I had been on the phone with Bob. When I finally arrived, exasperated from the whole ordeal, I exited the car only to hear Bob exclaim "how are your grades in school??" My reply was "Better than your directions." Best friends ever since. His passing truly pains me but I am glad I had moments with him like this that I will never forget.
Dana Klusener
September 16, 2015
Katy,
Even though I didn't know your dad, a part of him lives on in you and in Jackson. I am praying for you during this difficult time. Wish I could give you a hug, just as you did me a couple of years ago when I lost my dad. I love you!
Memori Jackson
September 16, 2015
Bob, you will be missed by many. Thank you for creating Jennifer Davis Steubing in your lifetime. She is one of my best friends. I know she is really going to miss you. Jen, please call anytime and you can cry or talk or whatever you need. Unfortunately, my 25 year class reunion is Friday and Saturday in Matador and I'm putting it on. If it weren't for that I would be there for you at the funeral. Much love and I'll be praying for all of you.
Lynda Griffin
September 16, 2015
I flew with Captain Bob for many years at Emery on charter flights to the far and not so nice reaches of the world...he was always the consummate gentleman, cared for and looked after his entire crew at all times, and was one of the best airman in the true sense of the word I flew with. He truly respected everyone he came in contact with and was deeply respected by all in return...his ability to ALWAYS be in a crisp, clean white shirt and flawless uniform while in 120 degree heat and suffocating humidity in India while helping me load is a secret he never shared...:) He will be sorely missed for his remarkable generosity, love of life, endless humor, and genuine kindness.
Blue skies my friend...you are loved and missed.
September 16, 2015
My fondest memories of Bob are in the boat on the 'bend, and of course his delicious cooking- bedtime strawberries & cream were one of my favorites!! He was the only other man I called "Dad" and he lovingly accepted me and ALL the shenanigans in which Katy and I would partake. May our happiest memories of him remain alive in our hearts always.
~Sam
Anthony Fantozzi
September 16, 2015
I knew an flew with Captain "Bobby" Davis from Feb. 1991 until Emery Worldwide closed its doors in Aug, 2001. He was well respected among all the crewmembers for his honesty and professionalism. It was an honor to have known him and his daughters, Katy and Jenny.
He will be truly missed.
Anthony J Fantozzi, Jr.
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