Paul Wallace Davis Sr.

He is survived by his wife Rhoda (Ham) Davis, sons Paul W. Davis Jr. and his wife Mary of Strafford, NH, and Alan L. Davis and his wife Kathy of Otego, NY, three grandsons Thomas, Michael and Steven Davis, two step-grandchildren Ben and Molly Kaufhold, two sisters-in-law Sylvia Ham of Center Tuftonboro and Nancy Roberge of Keene and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Paul was born on June 20, 1930, in Wolfeboro, NH, the only child of Albert and Eda (Wallace) Davis of Tuftonboro. Paul attended Tuftonboro Grammar School and Brewster Academy. He was a 4-H member and had poultry and gardening projects. As a young man he worked for A. N. Dow and Son logging, truck driving, and tending apple orchards. He also worked for the Whitten Farm with the maple sugar operation.

Paul met Rhoda (Ham) Davis at a social at the Tuftonboro Methodist Church. They were married on November 8, 1953 and began their journey together in Tuftonboro in a home that Paul built himself. Paul was a loving, hardworking and devoted husband to Rhoda Davis for over 62 years.

Paul was dedicated to his job and liked by all. In 1955, he started as a truck driver for Merrimack Farmers Exchange in Ossipee. He soon became an assistant manager in the Rochester store and was promoted again to Lancaster where he served as Store Manager. Lancaster was where he and Rhoda raised the boys and developed many life-long friendships.

In 1981 Paul and Rhoda moved to Loudon when Merrimack Farmers was purchased by H. K. Webster (Blue Seal Feeds). Paul worked in the Greenhouse Supply Division until it was discontinued. After working for the two companies for over 28 years, he decided to do what he knew best, and he and Rhoda started Davis Garden Center Supply from their home in Loudon. For 20 years they had a thriving business and sold greenhouse and garden center supplies throughout NH. The family remembers that no matter where they went it seemed everyone knew Paul!

Paul and Rhoda recently moved to Havenwood in Concord, but lived in Loudon for 33 years. Paul loved being outdoors and was often seen in the yard tending the apple trees, working the vegetable garden, mowing the lawn, or picking blueberries that they sold at their roadside stand. When indoors he was known for his soups, fish fries, and homemade grapenut ice cream.

Paul Jr. and Alan, remember family trips in the camper to Niagara Falls and Prince Edward Island, and “playing hooky” from school – what a treat it was going to work with Dad in his truck and stopping for a cheeseburger lunch along the way.

Grandsons, Thomas, Michael, and Steven remember all the projects Grampa had waiting for them, riding in the truck to the dump and never going back home the same way, learning to fish in the pond down the road, and no matter how hard they tried they just couldn’t beat Grampa at a game of cribbage!

Paul was an active member and leader in the NH Grange all his life. Following in his parent’s footsteps he joined the Ossipee Mountain Grange at age 14 and over the years held memberships to the Tuftonboro, Lancaster, Northern NH Pomona, Suncook Valley Pomona, Pembroke, and the NH State Granges. He served in many positions throughout the years including State Master and State Grange Executive Committee. In recent years he thoroughly enjoyed visiting the local schools and giving out dictionaries to the enthusiastic and appreciative 3rd graders.

As State Grange Master, Paul was also an active member of the Board of Trustees for the Eastern States Exposition “The Big E”, and in recent years a Trustee Emeritus. He served as Secretary of the Trustees of the New England Grange Building, helped serve blueberry pie in the NH Building, and attended annual meetings to oversee the largest fair in the Northeast. Paul always kept track of the daily attendance numbers and kept us all informed of “record breaking days”.

Paul continued to serve his community and the state throughout his life. Over the years he was a volunteer for the Tuftonboro and Lancaster Fire Departments, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lancaster United Methodist Church. At the state level Paul was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he served 6 years as a Trustee of NH Future Farmers Foundation, served for 11 years as Fair Director of Plymouth State Fair, and was on the Board of Directors of the Merrimack County Farm Bureau.

Paul led a full and wonderful life. He will be missed by his family and many friends, but his legacy will live on through them all and through the difference Paul made to all those he served throughout New Hampshire and anywhere he visited.

At Paul’s request there will be no calling hours or funeral. There will be a burial service at the Town House Cemetery on Middle Road in Center Tuftonboro, NH on June 20th.

To honor Paul’s true giving spirit, donations can be made to:

Loudon Food Pantry

30 Chichester Road, Unit D

Loudon, NH 03307

www.loudonfoodpantry.com

NH State Grange

Trustees of Trust Funds

Care of: Daniel P. Bascom

123 Franklin Street

Rochester, NH 03867-2461

Arrangements are entrusted to the Bennett Funeral Home of Concord.