William “Bill” Edgar Davis, passed away July, 31 at his home in Oklahoma City. Bill was born on March 12, 1916 in David City, NE to Edgar Croysdale and Artelia Maude Davis. His sisters, Mary and Lucille, played a large part in his upbringing. Mary’s husband, Curly, was like a second father. He graduated from high school in Brock, NE, attended Drake University for a year, and transferred to Nebraska where he was Big Six tennis champ in his division.
Upon graduation, Bill was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the Army. While training in South Carolina in 1940, he met his future wife, Margaret Porter Haskell. He was at Schofield Barracks when Pearl Harbor was attacked. In 1943 Captain Davis was transferred to the mainland, where he married Margaret after 3 years of writing and one week of dating. As a Major, he transferred to England where he served as ground liaison officer for the Army Air Corps, helping with the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. He retired after 20 years in the reserves as a Lt. Colonel.
In 1947 they moved to Oklahoma City where Bill went to work with the John Sexton Co. to learn the foodservice distribution business. In 1953, he and Margaret started Davis Wholesale Grocery. With the help of hundreds of loyal employees, and thousands of customers, they built a successful business, Wm. E. Davis & Sons. All the children worked in the business at some capacity at some time. They sold in 1986. Bill continued with the successor company, US Foodservice for another 14 years. In 1987, they established the first directed fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Since then, they’ve given away more than $1.5 million in over 1,000 grants.
Bill was an avid tennis player, winning the OKC Pro-Am with Dennis Ralston in 1965. He later took up golf, and loved dancing and playing bridge. He was an avid Oklahoma Sooner football fan.
In 1989 he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sales and Marketing Club International. Oklahoma State University established the Wm E Davis Distinguished Chair endowed professorship.
Bill was known as loving, caring, funny, involved, athletic and personable. He could have been a standup comedian, often evoking Bob Hope and Johnny Carson in his speaking. Most endearing was his faithfulness – to his wives Margaret and Betty, to his children through all circumstances, friends, employees and principles that guided his life.
After Margaret died in April, 1990, Bill met Betty Setari, and married her in December. They had been married almost 25 years.
Bill and Margaret had six children. His beloved Anne passed in December, 2014. He is survived by his children Porter and wife Terri, Richard and wife Karen, Charles and wife Libbi, Elizabeth Davis, Marnie Kennedy, and his adopted daughter, Chung Ja Tito and husband, Augustine, who became devoted friend and helper in his later years. He had 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren, as well as his nephews, Don and Gary Nuss.
Special gratitude goes to his devoted caregivers – Don Hill, Jewell Carter and Jessica Dunnagan, who have become part of the family.
Public viewing will be at Hahn-Cook/Street-Draper Sunday, August 2, 8 am to 7 pm. The Memorial Service will be Monday, August 3, 2 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, with reception following. Please make any memorial donations to the Wm. E & Margaret H. Davis Family Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.
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