Richard Davis

1933 - 2012

Richard "Dick" Davis passed away peacefully October 31, 2012, at his home in Westlake Village surrounded by several loved ones, due to complications from cancer. He was 79.

He was born October 2, 1933, in Wilmington, to Richard and Lillian Davis.

Later, he was joined by his brother Don. An avid car guy and mechanic, he grew up in Long Beach and graduated from General Motors Institute in Flint, Mich.

In 1955, he and Eleanor Ausburn were married and they raised three children: a daughter Markell, and two sons, Kurt and Michael in Long Beach.

In 1976, a co-worker from Mazda was starting a new dealership, and he wanted Dick to work for him. He and Eleanor moved to Thousand Oaks where he began working with the late John Woodward, Jr., the founder of Westoaks Chrysler Dodge. Mr. "D" retired from Westoaks as the general manager in 2003.

In retirement, he brought back to life his brother-in-law's 1968 Mercury Cougar, which brought him back into the "car guy" scene. He enjoyed talking to anyone about his car or any car in general, and he was always so humble about the recognition he and his car received.

Anyone who knew Dick Davis always knew they were welcomed and important, and that his family meant everything to him.

Dick is survived by his beautiful wife Eleanor and his three children, a daughter Markell and her husband Vic; son Michael and his wife Janet; son Kurt; and brother, Don Davis. His pride and joy (the cougar), 11 grandchildren, Jamie and her husband Aaron, Carmen, Gabriel and his wife Sandra, Ashley, Corey, Robert and his wife Melissa, Pierce, Kenneth, Derrick, Valerie, and Tiffany; and four great-grandchildren, Liam, Alaina, Gavin, Abeland his pet desert tortoise, The Judge.

The family requests donations to Our Community House of Hope at http://ourhouseofhope.org or The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org.