Walter Junior Davis

Born October 9, 1936 at home in St. Louis, Missouri to Willard W. and Katherine L. (Farmer) Davis, he married Beverly K. Young on March 9, 1958. He later married Sally L. Schwab on October 20, 1984 in Peoria. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Lori Ann McCullough of Pekin; two sons, Scott Michael Davis of Peoria Heights and Mark Wayne (Michelle) Davis of Westby, Wisconsin; three stepsons, Keith Allan (Sue Ellen) Phelps of Germantown Hills, Bradley Wayne (Melissa) Phelps of Brownsburg, Indiana and Morgan Richard (Pamela) Phelps of East Peoria; four grandchildren, Joshua (Kassi) Neltner, Tara (Joe) Cook, Zach (Casey) Davis and Ashley (Jacob) Greco; seven step grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren and one sister, Shirley (Bob) Hays of Johnston City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one infant daughter, Jeanine Davis; two brothers, William Davis and Duane John Davis and one sister, Daphne Sweeney.

Walter served with the Illinois Army National Guard and was activated and a veteran of the United States Army.

Walt worked for Caterpillar, Inc. for 37 years, retiring in 1990 from the General Offices in Peoria as a Manager in the Challenger 65 Division.

His passion was waterfowl hunting. He enjoyed fishing at Spring Lake and at Bennett Springs, Missouri. He also enjoyed fly fishing. He was a longtime member of the Pekin Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and was a member of the Tazewell County Gun Club for more than 40 years.

Walt was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Eric N. Swanson will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin, with military rites accorded by the United States Army and the Tazewell Area Ceremonial Team.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 601 North 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Illinois CancerCare Foundation, 8940 North Wood Sage Road, Peoria, IL 61615 or to Ducks Unlimited, One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, TN 38120.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com