WALTER DAVIS

Walter Raymond Davis, 87, 904 Melody Lane, died Thursday, Sept. 19, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center.

He was born Oct. 22, 1908, in Blossburg, Pa., son of David S. and Dora Bell Jessup Davis. He and Doris Alta Doud were married June 21, 1928, in Batavia, N.Y. She died July 17, 1984. He later married Margaret Bell Rogers July 26, 1986. She died June 1, 1994.

Davis attended Mansfield State Teachers College.

He worked at General Electric Co. in Schnectady, N.Y., from 1928-30; RCA Manufacturing Co. in Camden, N.J., from 1930-40; Hardwich and Hindle in Newark, N.J. from 1940-42; and at Ford Groves Corp. in Cape Girardeau from 1943-44.

Davis founded Davis Electric Co. in Cape Girardeau in 1945, which manufactured resistors, television coils, relays and components for the Atomic Energy Commission. After retiring in 1970 he became chairman of the board of the company.

He moved to Cape Girardeau in 1943 from Nutley, N.J. He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, St. Mark's Masonic Lodge AF&AM 93, Moolah Shrine Temple in St. Louis, and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He was active in various community projects.

Survivors include two sons, Walter Davis of St. Petersburg, Fla., Barry Davis of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Shirley Baldwin of Cape Girardeau; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 5-8 p.m. today.

Private funeral service will be held Saturday at the chapel, with Dr. Neil Stein officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park.