William Leroy Davis Sr.

Bill Davis of Waitsburg died June 20, 2012 at Walla Walla General Hospital. He was 86.

He was born August 31, 1925 in Delta, Colorado to Roy and Marie (Coates) Davis. He spent his childhood and attended school in Delta before joining the US Navy after Pearl Harbor in 1941. He fell in love with the Pacific Northwest after attending basic training in Farragut, Idaho, and moved back after the war ended. He has lived in eastern Washington for the majority of his life.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joyce (Haughton) Davis and their seven children: Doug Davis, Greg Davis, Carmen Spencer, Jeff Peterson, Scott Peterson and their twins, Barbara Brown and Bill Davis, and a multitude of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Ernie Davis and was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Hamon.

Bill was an entrepreneur at heart. During his lifetime, he and his wife owned Bill’s IGA Grocery Store, Coast to Coast hardware store, a Sears Catalog store and the General Convenience Store, all in Dayton. He had an impact on many people during his career.

He taught his family that they had an obligation to leave the world better than they came into it, and he was always willing to lend others his time and talent. He could often be found giving advice or thoughts over a cup of coffee at the store or serving on the Waitsburg School Board, Dayton Chamber of Commerce or the Touchet Valley Irrigation district, to name a few.

He was proud of his service on the USS North Carolina (BB-55), during World War II and would spend hours telling his children and grandchildren stories of his adventures during his time fighting battles in the Pacific Theater. He was a member of the V.F.W., was a 32nd degree Mason of the Scottish Rite, and the USS North Carolina Battleship Association.

His favorite pastimes, though, were spending time with his family and taking care of the family farm. During his 47 years on the farm, he built fences, pens and barns for and tended to everything from horses to cows, pigs, sheep, llamas, ducks, chickens, peacocks and geese.

There will be viewing & visitation at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. There will be a graveside service on June 27, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Waitsburg Cemetery with a reception to follow at Ye Olde Towne Hall, 121 Main Street in Waitsburg. The family suggests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of the Inland Northwest through the funeral home.