Edward Ribble (Bill) Davis, Jr., 89, of Blacksburg died on Dec. 6, 2021.
One of 10 children, Bill was born Sept. 15, 1932, to the late Edward Ribble (Buck) Davis, Sr., and the late Gillie Hughes Davis. Married on Feb. 3, 1953, Bill was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Helen Frances Stanger Davis.
Bill is survived by his four children, Charlene (Mike) Crews, Steve (Melissa) Davis, Ron (Diane) Davis, and Gary (Sally) Davis; his grandchildren, Jennifer (Ronnie) Jones, Lindsay (Jonathan) Salmons, Ryan (Caitlin) Johnson, Kelly Davis Weaver (fiancé Cody), Cody Davis, Cory Davis (fiancé Meghan), Kayla Johnson, and Carter Davis; his great-grandchildren, Alexis Jones, Grace Jones, Addison Jones, Jacob Jones, Avery Weaver, and Charlotte Weaver; sisters-in-law Jean Davis and Betty Simpkins, and brother-in-law George (Katie) Stanger; special companion Ruby Dove and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Bill served on active duty in the U. S. Army from 1953 until 1955 and the U.S. Army Reserves until he received an honorable discharge in 1961. While stationed in France in 1954, he participated on a championship basketball team and enjoyed being a member of the baseball team.
Upon completion of active duty in the U.S. Army, he returned to Blacksburg High School to earn a high school diploma, which was quite an accomplishment for a man in his twenties with a wife and children to support. After receiving his high school diploma, Bill enrolled in West Virginia Business College to study accounting.
Always an athlete, as a young man Bill played baseball for local teams on weekends, often bringing Frances and the kids to cheer him on. Later in life, his passion for sports turned to playing golf with friends and family. However, his greatest joy was to support the athletic endeavors of his sons and later his grandchildren. Throughout his life he followed the Virginia Tech, Blacksburg High School, and Radford High School athletic programs.
Bill enjoyed camping, hunting – especially deer hunting — fishing, and gardening. Everyone admired his ability to grow beautiful vegetables, especially his huge, delicious tomatoes. He retired from Virginia Tech after a 30-year career in the Agronomy Extension Department where he worked primarily with research on grains, soybeans, and peanuts throughout Virginia.
Bill was a charter member of Northside Presbyterian Church, Blacksburg, and later transferred his membership to Unity Christian Church in Radford.
Visitation will be at McCoy Funeral Home on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, at 1 p.m., one hour prior to a celebration of Bill’s life officiated by Wendy Wilson, Pastor of Unity Christian Church, Radford. Interment will be at Westview Cemetery immediately after the service.
At other times, the family will receive friends and relatives at the home of Gary and Sally Davis.
A special thanks to Gary and Sally for their love and care for Dad over the years, especially after Mom died. Also, the family wishes to acknowledge and express its gratitude for the compassion and outstanding care provided by the administration and staff of both Commonwealth Senior Living in Radford and Good Samaritan Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Helen Frances Stanger Davis Scholarship, Radford High School, 50 Dalton Dr., Radford, Va. 24141 or Unity Christian Church, Community Table, 400 Tyler Ave., Radford, Va. 24141. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.
