Dan Davis

Dan Davis

Dan Davis passed away on Saturday, April 30, from complications stemming from a two-year fight with cancer. Grieving members of his family surrounded him as he drew his last breaths.

Dan was born on October 9, 1944, to Ulysses and Lucile Davis in Decatur, Illinois. He was a surprise baby; when he was born, his brother was 11, his sister 15, and he grew up with his two siblings doting on him. Dan''s childhood in Decatur was spent surrounded by a large extended family, and after high school, he stayed in his hometown to earn a BA in Business Administration from the local private college, Milliken University.

After graduation, Dan worked for two years in federal civil service before four years of active duty with the Air Force. He then reentered civil service, and 11 years later, he achieved the grade of GS-15 while working Air Force-wide programs at the Pentagon. He was selected for a six-month LegisFellows rotation, serving on the staff of US Congressman (later Senator) Jon Kyl from Arizona. Dan next served as the Deputy Comptroller of Hill AFB''s Air Logistics Center before accepting a position in senior management at the Joint Logistics Systems Center at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio. He retired from civil service in January 1998.

Following retirement, Dan enjoyed a two-year "vacation" in Hawaii where Debbie, still on Air Force active duty, was stationed. He took care of the two sons still at home, traveling with both to other islands for swim meets, helping Jake learn to play tennis, and getting Ben to theatrical rehearsals all over Honolulu. Dan even joined Ben on stage in two community theater plays.

During the last few years, Dan worked in the business office of Christian Heritage School and then in Dee''s Bookkeeping He enjoyed those jobs very much and felt like the people he worked with in both offices were part of his extended family. While working at Dee''s, he was diagnosed with lymphoma, and Dee and her staff were gracious in supporting Dan with needed time off.

Dan stayed close to his two siblings throughout his life. The three were great Chicago Cubs fans, and they met for many years at the Cubs spring training camp in Mesa, Arizona. They enjoyed bringing their families together each summer at a fishing camp in Minnesota. Dan made at least one trip each fall, including this last season, to Washington, D.C., to attend a Redskins game with his brother, and the two went to two Super Bowls when the Redskins played. Sports and family were the primary topics Dan and his siblings talked about, and those conversations were almost daily.

The greatest joy Dan experienced was as a father. He lavished his children with time and attention, and if he could make any dream of theirs attainable, he worked at it until happened. He was never too tired or too caught up in his own interests to turn a request of theirs down. Spoiling them was not something he worried about, and that overflowing love produced great joy in the family. He enjoyed tennis, and two of his sons inherited his love of that sport and played on their colleges'' tennis teams.

Dan has now left this world and is shielded in the arms of Jesus. Dan was baptized as an adult in Fairborn, Ohio, after affirming his faith in Christ. The family he leaves behind looks forward to joining him someday. He is survived by his brother Bob (Sallie) of Springfield, VA, his wife Debbie, six children, Genny (Ritch), Becky (Aaron), Denver (Heather), Ken, Ben (Chelsy), and Jake, and nine grandchildren (ages 16-1). He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Marilyn Veech and niece, Deb Davis.

A service to honor Dan and comfort the family will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, at Lindquist''s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd. Friends and family will meet Wednesday, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. at the mortuary.

Interment, Lindquist''s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867N. Fairfield Rd.