Gerald Lee Davis Sr., 76, a resident of 110 Graham St., passed away unexpectedly Friday, Sept. 13, 2002, at his residence.
He was born Feb. 15, 1926, at Weston, a son of the late William Oren and Eula May Westfall Davis.
On Aug. 27, 1950, at Fairmont, he married the former Velma Lorraine Lowe, who preceded him in death on Feb. 12, 1987.
He is survived by three sons, Gerald L. Davis Jr. of Columbia, S.C., William F. “Jeff” Davis of Morgantown, and Gregory P. Davis of Elkins; one daughter, Beverly Anne Davis Wamsley of Mill Creek; five grandchildren, Breanna and Brock Wamsley, Erica, Ashley and Lalien Davis; and one great-grandson, Donavon Wiles.
He was preceded in death by one brother, William D. Davis.
Mr. Davis was a veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry, where he obtained the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. He served in World War II and the Korean War. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart for wounds he received in the Southern Philippines Operation on the Island of Cebu, and the Bronze Star.
From 1952 until 1988, he remained in the U.S. Army Reserve, 354th Ordinance Unit in Morgantown until his retirement in 1988. Other major military awards were Army Commendation Medal with Cluster and the Army achievement medal, which were awarded to him along with the commendation medal on his last active duty assignment at Fort Drum, N.J. in 1986 and 1987. He spent 44 years with the military while completing 37 years in the retail footwear business, managing stores in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland before settling in Elkins. He managed the Fort Pitt Shoe Store in Elkins from 1966 to 1979. When Fort Pitt Shoe was sold to Madison Shoes, he served as manager until 1985. He was employed in shipping and receiving at Peebles Inc. of Elkins. He was a member of the Acacia Lodge No. 157 AF & AM of Fairmont, the Reserve Officers Association of America, Tygart Valley Post No. 3647 Veterans of Foreign Wars and H.W. Daniels Post No. 29 American Legion. He was active with the Randolph County Senior Center and served as neighborhood coordinator for the Leukemia Society and the Mothers March of Dimes. He was a member of the Wayside United Methodist Church of Elkins and the United Methodist Men’s organization where he was presently serving as president and was a member of the United Methodist Men’s Chorus.
Friends may call from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. today at Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday from the funeral home chapel with Pastor Mary Ann Conley officiating. Interment will follow in the American Legion’s Little Arlington Cemetery, where full military rites will be accorded by members of Tygart Valley Post 3647 and H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion. Masonic graveside rites will be accorded by members of Elkins Lodge No. 108 AF & AM.
