Leroy G. (Dave) Davis was born in Forest, Indiana on June 25, 1924 to Chalmer E and Daisy Thomas Davis. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife of 69 years, Roberta Hanna Davis.
Dave graduated from Forest High school in May 1942. In August 1943 he was called up for active duty. Dave served as a pilot in the Navy and later the Coast Guard during WWII flying a PBY-5 off the coast of Florida. He was discharged in April, 1946.
Dave met his future wife on a Troop train and as fate would have it, soon thereafter married Roberta Hannah in 1945. He went on and graduated from Purdue University in 1950 and was hired by Braniff Airlines in 1951. He flew for Braniff until 1982 when Braniff went bankrupt.
In addition to flying, dad’s favorite hobby was golf. Dad had a handicap index of 10.7 and in 1992 was voted Golfer of the year where he lived in Arizona. Dad’s last game of golf was celebrated on his 90th birthday, playing golf with his grandsons and a grandson-in-law.
Dave and Roberta were married just short of 70 years when she passed in 2015. Dave was 99 years and five days old when he took his last Flight West, as the Lord called him home on June 30, 2023.
Dave is survived by his daughters Vicki Smith and husband Tom and Kimberly Wasson and husband Terry; four grandchildren, Cindy Stovall, and husband Jimmy, Eric Smith, and his wife, Jennifer; Heather Barber, and husband Brandon, and Brian Prince and his wife, Kimberly and step-granddaughter Lindsey Wasson. There are eight great grandchildren, Ashley Smith, Trevor Stovall, Blake,Georgia, and Amelia Jane Barber, Conner, Harper Daisy, and Ella Prince.
There will be a service for Dave at the Texas Veteran Cemetery in Killeen, Texas. on September 29, 2023 at 2 p.m. Please feel free to attend.