TSGT (Ret) William Donald Davis

TSGT (Ret) William Donald Davis was born to the late Horace Davis and Catherine Marie Johnson Davis on March 9, 1933. He went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, January 3, 2022, at the age of 88. Mr. Davis was born and raised in Clarksville and grew up in his family’s multi-generational home on Lawn Street, in the historic area of Vinegar Bottom. To his family and friends he answered to Donald, Dave, Uncle Dave, Uncle Don, William, Bill, and to one lucky girl, Daddy.

His father instilled in him the value of hard work by teaching him how to hang wallpaper. Growing up during the great depression taught him to appreciate opportunities to earn an honest day’s wages, from being a butcher at H. G. Hills grocery store with his childhood friend Cecil Lehman, to printing the Leaf-Chronicle.

In 1951 he became the first one of his siblings to graduate from Clarksville High School. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1953, serving until 1974. TSGT (Ret) Davis worked in the field of cryogenics with the first operational supersonic long-range surface to air missile, the Bomarc. These missiles were kept combat-ready and relied on an automated control system used by NORAD for detecting, tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft.

TSGT (Ret) Davis served several overseas assignments including Korea, Taranto Italy, and Johnston Island, as well as several stateside tours including Camp Campbell, Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas, Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award. While stationed at Hurlburt Field he met the love of his life, Donna Louise Koester and proposed marriage. Together they made many happy memories exploring Europe and enjoyed lifelong friendships with Bill & Darlene Goins of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Jim & Jean Garan of Tampa, Florida, who were stationed with them in Italy.

After retiring from the Air Force and returning to his beloved hometown to care for his family he put his military service to good use as a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Specialist in the Maintenance Department at Clarksville Memorial Hospital. He was a devoted husband, father, uncle, and an example of how to live a life of service to anyone who knew him. His favorite past times involved caring for loved ones, fishing, hunting, and tinkering with old cars, trucks and lawn mowers.

TSGT (Ret) Davis was a faithful member of the First Assembly of God Church and counted Pastor Louie Montoya as a dear friend. He is survived by daughter Tracey Lynne Davis, and three nieces he and Donna loved and raised as their own, Jo Ellen Potts, Debbie Fite, Lea Bates, and son-in-law Thomas Richard Hurd, Jr. He is also survived by four more nieces, four grandnieces, five grandnephews, five great-grandnieces, and two great-grandnephews.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Davis is preceded in death by wife, Donna Louise Koester Davis, brother Charles Irvin Davis, sister Martha Jean Davis, sister Dorothy Marie Davis Mann, and in 2021, sister Wanda Sue Davis Gattis and brother James Paschal Davis.

He was laid to rest with full Military Honors in a private family graveside service on January 10, 2022, with Pastor Louie Montoya and Pastor Danny Potts officiating. Interment is at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

A Celebration of Life was held on April 2, 2022, at First Assembly of God Church. The service was officiated by Pastor Louie Montoya, Pastor Danny Potts and Pastor Jason Bell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Assembly of God Church, 1186 Fort Campbell Blvd, Clarksville, TN 37042.

Arrangements are entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040; (931) 645-6488. Online condolences may be made at www.nealtarpleyparchman.com.

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