On March 4, 2011, Frank Bertram Davis, age 91, passed from this life to go to be at home in heaven with his lovely wife Ruby Laverne, his brothers and sisters, and his Creator and Savior Jesus.
Frank was born on February 15, 1920 in Glenn, Georgia. He was born to the parents of Thomas Bradley and Zelma Ophelia Elkins Davis. His family moved to Gainesville, Texas in 1923 where they lived on the family farm.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Laverne Davis whom he married on January 29, 1956. She died suddenly on October 14, 1969. The sudden death of Laverne after 13 1/2 years of marriage required Frank to courageously raise three children, Derek, Dianne, and Dart. He is also preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Owen, Ben, Scott, Tice, and his sisters Ruth, Lee Ella and Sara. Frank was the last surviving “original” Davis.
He is survived by his two sons and daughter and many grandchildren. His son Derek Livingston is married to Julie with step-grandchildren, David, Denny, Brady and Miranda. His daughter Dianne Davis is married to Daniel Benac with grandchildren, Drew and wife Hannah, Dustin, David and Dylan. His son Dart Lynn is married to Tracey with grandchildren Katie and Kellie.
One of Franks’ proudest accomplishments was being a 1943 graduate from Texas A&M University with a Petroleum Engineering Degree. From 1943 to 1946, Frank served in active duty in WWII in the Army Department of Ordinance attaining the rank of Captain. He was stationed in New Guinea, Manila, and the Philippine Islands.
After his service in the Army, Frank was employed for seventeen years as a petroleum engineer for Creole Petroleum. He was stationed in Venezuela and traveled the Caribbean and Central America. When returning to the states in 1964 he resided with his wife, Laverne, and children in Denton, Texas working briefly in the lumber and house building business. In late 1965, Frank started his civil service employment when the family moved to Mobile, Alabama.
In 1966, he and the family moved to San Antonio, Texas when he was transferred to Kelly Air Force Base. For 25 years, Frank served at the Kelly Air Force Logistics Command working as a mechanical engineer and various production supervisor management assignments. He was known as a “tough and honest” boss that cared about the well-being of his staff. He was a Federal Managers Association member and office holder and would be considered a “manager of managers”. His careers as a petroleum engineer, mechanical engineer, business owner and civil servant manager, spanned nearly 50 years. He retired at the age of 70.
During his 20-plus years of retirement, he enjoyed redfish fishing with his Seadrift buddies and his children and grandchildren. He was proud of his Davis family heritage, not missing a family reunion. He was proud to be an Aggie, and he was very proud of his children and grandchildren. He was known for appreciating good and beautiful art, listening to good classical and country music, making margaritas, cooking delicious egg plant cuisines and gardening vegetables of greens and okra. He was a Legendary Fisherman and cook!
He numbered his 91 years as a loving son, devoted brother, caring husband, giving father, gracious granddad, respected uncle, masterful manager, cherished friend and an enjoyer of beauty. He was uniquely gifted with insight and honesty, offering his honest and direct insightful words to help others excel. He was ever so generous, helping others to succeed and obtain dreams, rather than gain personal recognition.
Three years before his death, Frank was a resident at Long Stay retirement home in Boerne, Texas.
Frank Bertram Davis will be buried in the Davis family plot at the Fairview Cemetery located in Gainesville, Texas.