William Oral Davenport

William Oral Davenport, age 80 of Russellville, TN passed on to his heavenly home on March 6, 2015 at Jefferson Memorial Hospital. He was born in Success, Missouri on June 28, 1934. As a teenager he delivered milk and worked in a dairy, then after graduating high school he joined the United States Air Force, where he served over 20 years as an aircraft mechanic. He served in Korea and Vietnam, and then helped train troops for Operation Desert Storm. He was stationed in Japan, Korea, Spain, and throughout the United States. He served as crew chief on the USAF Thunderbird team in Las Vegas, NV where he met Barbara Price and was married. After serving in the USAF, he continued to work with Air Force contractors involved in stealth technology and the all new emerging field of drones, both of which are now the backbone of USAF aviation. After 56 years of marriage and three children, he retired in New Mexico then came to Tennessee to be close to friends and family. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Morristown, the USAF Thunderbird Alumni Association, the American Legion, the Air Force Association, the Disabled American Veterans and Retired Enlisted Associations. After the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, he still loved to dance and joke and hang out with his grandchildren as long as he was physically able. He was preceded in death by his parents, William A. Davenport and Bessie Davis Davenport; his sisters Clara, Dorothy and Virgie; brothers, Lloyd and Bernie; and son, William O Davenport Jr. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Price Davenport; children, Tamela (Steve) McCormick, and son, Eddie (Patty) Davenport; grandchildren, Raymond (Amy) McCormick, Ryan (Lindsey) McCormick, Reid (Kirsten) McCormick, Ashley Davenport, Alexa Davenport, Alec Davenport, Abigail Davenport, and Aiden Davenport; and one great-grandchild, Addison McCormick. Funeral services will be held at Stubblefield Funeral Home on Thursday, 12 March 2015 at 6:00 p.m. with Rev Charles Brewer and Rev Danny Georges officiating. Funeral services will be followed by a military honors ceremony, conducted by Shaw Air Force Base. The family will receive friends from 4 - 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the services. He will then take a final flight back to Las Vegas, NV to be laid to rest next to his son and father-in law, Eddie Price, at Paradise Memorial Gardens, fittingly located across the street from McCarran International Airport. Stubblefield Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.