Lawrence H. Davis

Lawrence H. Davis, 97, of New Philadelphia, O., passed away on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at Union Hospital in Dover, O., following a short illness.

Born October 15, 1911 in Holloway, O., he was a son of the late Howard Eli and Anna Maude (Van Horn) Davis.

A resident of the Tuscarawas area for over seventy years, Larry loved working his family farm with his dear wife, Anna Louise (Wardell) Davis, who passed away on November 15, 2005 after seventy years of marriage, having been wed on November 13, 1935.

Larry and Anna were blessed with a son, Richard “Dick” Davis and his wife, Ginny, of Port Saint Joe, Fla.; two daughters, Mrs. Don “Dink” (Carrie) Fellers of Uhrichsville and Mrs. John (Patty) Bihari of Stonecreek; thirteen grandchildren, Tim Cookson and his fiancée, Susie, Mrs. Duce (Darla) Carlisle, Don Fellers, Jr. and his wife, Cristy, Kirk Davis and his wife, Cheryl, Tawny Davis, Kelly Davis, Matt Pastor and his wife, Keli, Chris Pastor and his wife, Marilyn, Mike Pastor, Dana Pastor, Mrs. Matt (Jennifer) Drechsler, John Bihari and his wife, Melissa, and Mrs. Joe (Janna) Himes; and eighteen great grandchildren.

Larry is also survived by a sister, Helen Watkins of Tuscarawas, and a brother and sister-in-law, Carl and Haldean Davis of New Philadelphia, as well as many dear nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind a host of friends and neighbors, including special friends, Mac McGlothlin and Art and Mary Viola to whom his family is very grateful for all the time and loving attention they gave Larry.

In addition to his parents and wife, Larry was preceded in death by a grandson, Richard Davis, Jr.; two sisters, Edna Reed and Leona Jenkins; and a brother, Charles Davis.

A decorated veteran of World War II, Larry served his country in many capacities throughout the world, having been stationed in the European, Pacific and African/Middle Eastern Theaters, as well as having been a part of the Army of Occupation in Germany as well as in Japan.

Larry maintained a lifelong connection with his army comrades, not only as a life member of Tuscarawas V.F.W. where he had been active in the Honor Guard over the years, serving as Chaplain for many of them, but also as a member of the 556 Railhead Company Quartermaster Corp who met faithfully for reunions, year after year.

A man of many skills, Larry had worked in a variety of fields over the course of his long, full life. In his younger years, he worked for the CCC Camp at Sequoia National Park in California and for local coal and clay mines. Larry was also a well-known carpenter who built many area homes while working as a sub-contractor for Unger Lumber in Gnadenhutten, all the while continuing to farm, which was his favorite occupation.

Larry was an avid fisherman who relished his summer fishing trips to Canada each year with family and friends. He loved travel and also enjoyed bowling with the Tuscarawas V.F.W. league well into his 80’s. He was a longtime member of St. James Lutheran Church in Tuscarawas.

Services for Larry, officiated by Rev. Kenneth G. Hacker, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, in the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home at Dennison. Interment will follow beside his beloved wife in St. James Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday. Those wishing to honor Larry’s memory by a charitable contribution are encouraged to do so to St. James Lutheran Church.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
(740) 922-1970
www.lindseyfh.com