WILLIAM F. DAVIS Jr.

DAVIS JR., WILLIAM F. Dec. 7, 1929 to Jan. 14, 2013 Bill Davis, beloved husband, father, teacher, coach, administrator and friend, died at UCSD Hospital after a brief illness that began shortly after the new year, 2013. Although his passing has hit us all very suddenly and very hard, his life was long, colorful and robust. Bill was born in 1929 in Medford, Oregon, but he spent most of his life in Southern California. He enjoyed happy years as a member of Eagle Scout Troop 46 in EI Cajon. In 1948, he graduated from Grossmont High School. Who would have guessed that he'd one day return as one of Grossmont's most illustrious principals and would lead his alma mater for 10 years, 1976 to 1986? Prior to his years of teaching, coaching and administrating in the Grossmont Union High School District, Bill honed his skills at Coachella High School from 1953 to 1954, and then at Indio High School from 1957 to 1960. Bill's many devoted years in the Grossmont School District included assignments at Granite Hills H.S., where he was named Grossmont League Football Coach of the Year in 1964, EI Capitan High School Principal, Grossmont District Director of Student Services and part-time Special Education Administrator, completing his career in 2001. Few have had a greater positive impact on the Grossmont Union High School District than Bill Davis. In 1951, Bill married Adele Berg in La Mesa, CA. He graduated from SDSU in 1952 with honors in Air Science. Bill lettered in varsity football at SDSU for three years and received an All CCAA Honorable Mention. His participation in the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant, serving from 1954 to 1956, followed by 35 additional years of Reserve military service, gave him the honor of the rank of Colonel upon his retirement. No one was prouder of his country and his service to its military than Bill Davis. With two sons, Douglas and Kenneth, Adele and Bill enjoyed years of family trips with dear friends to places like Lake Powell, Borrego and Baja. In spite of the painful loss of both of their young sons and, years later, Adele, Bill maintained a compassion and caring for those fortunate people still in his life. No one was a more loyal friend than Bill Davis. Bill found a perfect mate in his second wife, Sharon Galvin, a former English teacher at Grossmont High School. Bill and Sharon were married on a cruise to Mexico in January, 2008. For five years they shared a full life together. Their joy of family, friends and travels brought happiness to them and all who know them. Bill participated in life to the fullest in so many ways. He was past president of La Mesa Kiwanis, a member of Elks Lodge in EI Cajon, Masonic Lodge #576, SDSU Aztec Club and a Life Loyal Sigma Chi. He was an avid golfer, a private pilot with extensive flying experience, a motor home traveler throughout the Western U.S., and loved boating at Lake Powell and in the Sea of Cortez. Baja was the scene of many wonderful vacations with family, friends, and later with a cadre of close buddies. The stories will be with us all for a long, long time. No one's will be more revered in memory than that of William F. Davis, Jr. A service celebrating Bill's life will be held at Foothills United Methodist Church, 4031 Avocado Blvd., La Mesa, 91941, on Monday, January 28th, at 1:30 p.m. A reception at the church will follow. Memorial donations may be made to Foothills or a favorite charity.