James Walton (J.W.) Davis

James Walton (J.W.) Davis, Jr. was born in Round Mountain, Texas January 22, 1926 to Emma Birck Davis and James Walton ("Buck") Davis, Sr. the 3rd of four children. He passed away during the night of May 30th at the age of 90 from health complications. At the age of 3 he moved with his family to a newly established homestead west of Eldorado Texas.

He grew up on the Eldorado homestead and attended grade schools in one room, one teacher rural country schools in Schleicher-County, until 8th grade when necessary to transfer to Eldorado School for higher education. He played football and remained in Eldorado high school until his senior year when opting to transfer to Austin, Texas where he graduated from Austin High. In Austin he was instrumental in the school establishing a class to teach Home Economic skills to boys.

By the time J.W. graduated, WWII was in full swing and upon graduation at age of 18 he enlisted in the United States Army with Travis County Draft Board. After 6 weeks of intense training in Fort Hood he was shipped overseas to join action on the front line in France. He was on the battle front 2 days when seriously wounded by a German mortar shell and hospitalized for the next 3 years in France, London, and the USA. Miraculously his life was spared due to a bale of hay he was carrying for his fox hole. Medics saved his arm and hand but pieces of shrapnel remained throughout his body.

After the War he attended the University of Texas in Austin earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering. J. W. was an outstanding man of many talents, interests, and skills; an avid outdoors man, hunter, fisherman, gardener, wood craftsman, clever artist, handy man, and jack of many trades. He was a gentle, loyal, & kind man who dearly loved his family, country, and friends and seldom met a stranger. He was very active in the Austin Civic Community, Rotary Club, Masons, and made many friends. Throughout life he retained great love for the Schleicher County family farm and took many week-long trips there in a travel trailer just to visit life-long friends and neighbors and roam his childhood territory. His Mother often accompanied him on these trips until her passing in 1995. He also instilled his love for the outdoors and the family farm in his nephews who often had the pleasure of being with him on these trips. He was very fond of his Eldorado childhood friends.

J.W. married Nina Jo House in 1953 in Denton, Texas, a teacher and nurse. They settled in Austin, Texas and had 2 children, Ryon Kent and Teresia Jo. For years until retirement he owned a block of buildings on Brazos Street in downtown Austin where he owned & operated a very successful "Multiprint" printing Company.

J.W. was preceded in death by both parents, Emma and Buck Davis, his son Kent, older sister, Mae Davis Cowan, two nephews Will Cowan, Jr. and Tom Budd, and niece Roberta Cowan.

J.W. is survived by his wife Nina of Austin; daughter Terese11 of Austin; two siblings Jewell Davis Goolsby (Robert), of Austin and Fae Conner (Jim), of Lockhart; nephews James (Tex) Schwobel, Charles Schwobel, Bruce Schwobel, all of Austin, Christopher Conner (Michelle), of Jonestown, Bryan Conner of Corpus Christi, Walter Cowan, and niece, Penny Cowan Rand (Tracy), of Nevada, and l0 great nieces and nephews.

Graveside services with Military Honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive.