Howard Davis
Howard Davis
Howard E. Davis, 93, of Oskaloosa, and formerly of Perry, Iowa, entered into the presence of his Lord on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, at the Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa. He was born June 10, 1918 at Perry, the son of Omer and Nina Roberts Davis. He grew up in Perry and later Centralia, Missouri. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and served in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Howard returned to Perry in 1935, and began working for Slim Hartman where he learned his trade in auto mechanics. On January 17, 1943, he was united in marriage to Julia Ellett at Perry. He served his country during World War II, serving in the Army from February, 1944 until honorably discharged in April, 1946, and was part of the occupation army in Germany. Upon his discharge, he returned to Perry and was an auto mechanic at Wheelwright, Jenkins and Batterson, Salocker Burke Ford, and their auto dealerships, retiring in 1980. Howard and Julia moved to New Sharon in 1985 to be near family. They moved to Oskaloosa in 2003. He was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church, Oskaloosa, and he enjoyed tinkering with metal and wood, building most anything, and also made a variety of homemade knives from old saws.
His family includes his wife of over 68 years Julia Davis of Oskaloosa; a son and his wife, Edward and Margaret Davis of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a daughter: Laurie McMahan of New Sharon; five grandchildren: Keith (Bren) Davis, Kirsten (Daniel) Kleinheksel, Korene (Mario) Estrada, Ryan (Sara) MaMahan, and Ruan (Summer) McMahan; seven great grandchildren: Zachary, Kate, Marissa, Megan, Autumn, Austin, and Kailey.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son in law: Larry McMahan; and a brother, Leslie Davis.
Visitation will begin Sunday at the Bates Funeral Chapel after 1 p.m., and the family will be at the funeral chapel Sunday from 2 – 4 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. Howard will then be taken to the Carris Funeral Home in Perry, and a graveside service will be held Monday, September 12, 2011, at 1 p.m. at the Violet Hill Cemetery at Perry with the Reverend Bruce Thompson officiating, followed by graveside military rites given by members of the Perry veterans associations. Memorials may be made to the Bethel Baptist Church, Oskaloosa.
Source: Bates Funeral Chapel
