Donald Douglas Davis, age 77, of Satsuma, Alabama passed away on Saturday, August 6, 2022. Donald was born December 28, 1944 in Chickasha, Oklahoma to the union of Donald Loy and Lorene Turner Davis. He graduated from Western Beaver High School in Industry, PA and joined the USAF as a radar technician. He was stationed at Thomasville Radar Facility and vectored jets over Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis and watched over the Southeast US and Caribbean.
After leaving the service, Don returned to Ohio and began working at the GM Lordstown facility (Firebirds and GTO'S!!). He was a Quality Control Foreman and ended his career there working as a Corporate Quality Auditor. In his spare time, he loved to drive 18 Wheelers and motorcycles. He loved old cars with a passion and loved going to car shows. After leaving GM, he started working at Ciba-Geigy in McIntosh, Al as a production foreman. He retired after 31 years and the family knew he had to do something to stay out of trouble!. His good friend talked him into becoming a substitute bus driver. He drove for Saraland, Satsuma, Chickasaw and Mobile County. He finally became a full time driver and drove special needs students, Alternative school students and all grades. He loved It!!!! He was really sad when school started without him this year.
Don loved his family most of all. Grandbabies were the best. He was finally able to have some girls to spoil! The family couldn’t wait for us to come up to Ohio- everything had to be planned to fit in all the visits. Parties and fun! Everyone knows of his fur babies: Jack , Buddy, Pebbles, Puddles, Molly, Princess and Bruiser. Rescues are important and they give unconditional love. Please support your local Rescue Organizations. He also loved cats but Mollie would not allow any around the house.
He was a big music fan, no matter the genre. Don also loved Science Fiction and Space. Don also loved nature and was always taking pictures of flowers, birds, plants squirrels and anything colorful. He thought black was the color of the Universe and that the Earth and all of it's beauty was special. Very seldom would you see him in Black. Please wear any color to help us celebrate his life. The family would appreciate it.
Don is preceded in death by his parents Donald and Lorene Davis Grandparents Clyde and Virginia Davis of East Palestine, Ohio and Daniel and Ruth Turner of Chickasha OK, Son Michael Henry Davis of Jackson, AL , Sisters LouAnn Trimble and Debbie Barker of PA; Father in Law Jacob Champion, and his first wife and mother of his three sons Glenda Newsome.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Nancy Champion Davis of Satsuma, AL, his sons Donald Davis Jr of Fulton, Alabama; Debbie Davis of Jackson, AL; Lt Col Mark ( Dr. Kimberly) Davis of New Braunfels, Texas, Christopher(Jessica) Davis of Saraland, AL and Sean (Lindsey) Davis of Chickasaw, AL. Mother in law Estelle Champion of Greenville AL ;Sisters Linda (Carl) Campy of East Palestine, Ohio, Teresa (Mike) Gentile of Pittsburgh, PA; brother Butch (Beverly) Leake of East Palestine, Ohio; sister in law Becky (Alan) Grove of Montgomery, AL.; Brother in laws Jacob Champion of Vidalia, GA, Ed Trimble of Aliquippa, PA and Ray Barker of Midland, PA. Aunts Peggy Harwell and Gerri Clark of Oklahoma City, OK. Grandchildren Dallas (Brett) Goodman of Grove Hill, AL, Cally Davis of Robertsdale, AL, Colby and Carter Davis of Grove Hill, AL , Christian Van Der Merwe of Johannesburg, South Africa ; Josh , Kasen and Kelson Ann Davis of Grove Hill, AL; Connor Davis of Sheppard AFB, TX; Abby Davis of New Braunfels, TX; Emily and Ethan Davis of Saraland, AL; Lorelei, Salem, Elizabeth and Sean Jr of Chickasaw, AL. Great Grandchildren Parker and Maddie Goodman of Grove Hill, AL and Cooper Davis of Robertsdale, AL. Numerous nieces and nephews to numerous to list. They loved their " Uncle Donnie" so much.
The family will be receiving guests for visitation on Sunday, August 14, 2022 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Radney Funeral Home, 1200 Industrial Parkway, Saraland, Alabama 36571. A Celebration of Life service will occur Monday, August 15, 2022 at 9:00 AM in the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home, Saraland. A graveside service will follow Monday, August 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM on the grounds of the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spanish Fort, Alabama.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.RadneyFuneralHome-Saraland.com for the Davis family.
