David Albert Davis

SMSgt (Ret) David A. Davis passed from life at home in Alamogordo to eternal life with Jesus his Lord and Savior Monday 7 February.  Dave was born in Vancouver, British Columbia 31 July 1932 and was a military man from the womb.  His Dad was in the RCAF and Dave, though not legally of age, joined the Air Force Cadets when he was just 11.  After high school, he moved to Seattle, Washington with his folks and joined the USAF in 1951. 

First stop Lackland AFB, Texas of course, follow by Sheppard AFB, Texas; Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, Ruston, Louisiana; Hamilton AFB, California; a little radar site at Yaak, Montana; Osan, Korea; Tsuiki Air Base, Japan; and Wheelus AFB, North Africa all in four years. 

In October 1955, on his way from Libya, he stopped at Trenton RCAF base in Ontario, Canada to visit his brother where he met Lucille.  That night after a swim in the base pool, snack in the snack bar, he walked Lucille back to her barracks, proposed marriage and they were married four months later in her home church in Surrey, British Columbia.  They began their 65 years of marriage at Paine Field AFB, Everett, Washington where they were stationed for 8 years.  While there, daughter Jill and son Lee were born and then PCSs began again.  Orlando AFB in Florida; Spangdahlem AFB, Germany; Holloman AFB, New Mexico; a two year tour as a courier stationed at West Ruislip Air Station, London, England; Edwards AFB, California; Eglin AFB, Florida; Hickam AFB, Hawaii and back to Holloman for one year and then retirement having served happily doing maintenance analysis for twenty-six years.  

  Dave is preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Peggy Davis of Camano Island, Washington; daughter, Jill of Alamogordo dd 5 April 2020, and brother, George of Kelowna, B. C. dd November 2021.

     Dave is survived by his loving wife, Lucille, son LtCol (Ret) Lee Davis, darling Granddaughter, Rylee Davis of Las Cruces and some wonderful cousins in Alberta.  ”Many friends at Westminster Presbyterian Church; a special friend: Dick Richey who took over my job as church treasurer and was always around to cheer me up when things were not going well.  Family, church and country…so what more can a person ask for?”

     Dave was a faithful member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, serving many years as treasurer and deacon.  Along with the many deacon duties, (all of which he did willingly …except plumbing), one year he and Deacon John Solomon reroofed the church.  He and Luz loved to bowl together at Holloman and in the Senior Olympics all over the state and at St. George, Utah.  He was a great pinochle player, read a lot, enjoyed documentaries and war movies, anything that involved wood and power tools, and was a news junkie.  He could tell you anything that was going on at any given time anywhere on the planet.  For over thirty years he enjoyed Ranchmen’s Camp Meetings on the Nogal Mesa until the elevation got to be too much.  He quit smoking in 1976 but it wasn’t soon enough.  For too many of his last years he struggled to breathe with lungs that were damaged beyond repair.  So when covid hit, even having been vaxed, he couldn’t recover like nonsmokers do.  Even with added oxygen through tubes and tethered to the concentrator, breathing was always labored and uncertain, not knowing if there would be enough.  But through it all, he asserted, “Thy will be done.”

A memorial service for Dave and Jill is being planned and will be announced at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, Dave would be pleased if monetary gifts were given to the Gideons International. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David Albert Davis, please visit our floral store.