Obituary of Robert Wesley Davis

Robert W. Davis, Jr. of Lakewood, WA, died peacefully at home in the early hours of March 17, 2011 surrounded by family. As a young boy he was fascinated with anything electrical. His avid interest resulted in him becoming a ham radio operator. At age 16, he worked at the Naval Air Station in Norfolk, Virginia where he repaired radios on aircraft damaged from air battles at sea. This made him a prime candidate for radio electronics when he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp. A World War II veteran, he served in the USAAC from March 1946 until March 1949. First stationed at Biloxi, Mississippi, he was transferred to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois where he was an instructor of radio mechanics and then took charge of the transmitter section. After his discharge, recruiters for the Central Intelligence Group, later known as the Central Intelligence Agency, recognized that his abilities were highly valued at that time. Employed by the CIA for 29 years as a communications officer, his employment took him around the world, with assignments in Greece, Israel, Philippines, Austria, England, and Japan. After his retirement in 1975, he moved to Cape Coral, Florida where he enjoyed sailing, becoming the Cape Coral Club Commodore and a life long member of the US Power Squadron teaching classes and eventually becoming Commander from 1990-1991. In 2000 he moved to Lakewood, Washington where he served as president of his condominium board for 5 years and was the editor of the Wake Astern, a publication of the Tacoma US Power Squadron. Born April 3, 1928, in Norfolk, Virginia, the son of the late Robert W. (Evelyn) Davis, Sr., he was preceded in death by his brother Ramon “Bud”. He is survived by to his loving wife of 62 years, Daralyn K.; his son, Robert G. (Lorri) of Lakewood, WA; his daughter Kathy L. (Monica) of Alger, Michigan; three grandsons: Steven Wesley and Parker of Lakewood, WA. and Robert W. Davis of Los Angeles, California; two great granddaughters Alyssa and Whitney Davis of Los Angeles, California; a brother-in-law Ronald Kraus of Illinois and several nieces and their families of Norfolk, Virginia. The family would like to thank his doctor, Dr. Lorrin Yee for his care during the last year of his life, and the Franciscan Hospice Team, especially Cathy and Alene, who took such great care of him in the last few weeks of his life. A gathering to celebrate his life will be held on what would have been his next birthday, Sunday, April 3 at the home of his son, Robert G. Davis, located in University Place, WA from 3 – 6 p.m.