Edeltraud Dorothea Davis

She was born on May 8th, 1934, in East Germany to Georg and Elfriede (Wadowski) Schlichczin. Edeltraud was a strong German woman, with a quick sharp tongue, but she was a survivor with a determined work ethic to stand alone during most of her life to survive in a male dominated workplace, as a single mother of two young boys.

Her early childhood was spent in the war-torn streets and fields of Germany, during WW2. She scoured ruined streets, through bombed out and abandoned buildings and cellars, searching for food and coal to keep her family fed and warm. She would relate stories of living in the Russian occupied zones and the horrors the war affect had on her family and country. Then other stories, of being protected by the Russian soldiers from others, wanting to do her harm. Protecting her as she ran from ruin to ruin looking for food. So many atrocities witnessed, so many years of violence and fear, no child should live through.

She was the oldest of five siblings, two sisters and two brothers. She and her stepmother, Adelheid (Wadowski) Schlichczin, were for the most part on their own as they fled with her brothers and sisters through the waring districts for safety. Ever moving from town to town, being followed by her father, serving at the time as a Military Motorcycle Police Officer in the German Army.

After the wars end, Edeltraud and her family settled in the small town of Ludwigsburg, in western Germany. There in 1954 after many years working in the family laundry she took a job with the United States Army, as a valet assigned to the Southern Area Command near Stuttgart. In September of 1956, with a saddened heart but a need to embrace a new life. Edeltraud to the dismay of her family, decided to leave Germany for the United States. She borrowed $185.00 dollars from the U.S. War Relief Service and boarded a Liberty boat bound for New York and then Chicago, Illinois to start her new life with twenty-five dollars in her pocket.

She began work with the Standard Oil Company in 1957 as a Keypunch Operator. Working there till 1958 when she took a position with Union Oil in California. Soon after coming to California, she met James A. Davis, a driver and mechanic. They married and soon after divorced in1963, after having two sons, James and Roger.

Edeltraud remained a single mother for the remainder of her life. She raised both sons on her own, at times she worked for three companies simultaneously to make ends meet. In 1974, she landed a position as ‘Crew Scheduler’ for Western Airlines, known now as Delta Airlines. There she remained over 20+ years. This job finally enabled her to provide for her family as a single mother. There she was honored for her work ethic, attendance and punctuality. Sometimes she was known to sleep in her car inside the office garage so not to be late from her overtime shift the previous day. She was adored by the crews she worked with from Western and Delta, making lifelong friends.

Edeltraud never stopped working. Working was like breathing, something you don’t stop. She was very frugal, most times to her own detriment. But on her birthday and Christmas she would make sure to have the entire family out for an extravagant dinner and memorable evening with everyone at one table.

Survivors include her sons,

James and wife Nancy, two sons, Chase and wife, Paige, their sons Rhett and Ryder. Son, Mitchell and wife Kelsey, their son Brecken and daughter Paisley.

Roger and his wife Erin, their daughter Meghan and son Colin.

Sister Doris Schlichczin.

Sisters in laws, Inge and Ede Schlichczin and their respective families.

**A private family memorial will be held on August 30th, 2024.