Wilbern F. Davis

A loving husband and father died peacefully Monday, October 16, 2006 in Austin, Texas. He will be truly missed by all those who knew and loved him. He was a man of many talents, an avid gardener, who loved crossword puzzles and enjoyed beating his grandson Alan at Skip-Bo and Yahtzee. Since a young boy, he loved fishing, spending many hours honing his skills earning him the nickname “fish hook” when he was young. The last trip he took was on an overnight deep sea fishing boat with his son and grandson Alan in Port Aransas, Texas. A retired mechanical design engineer, holder of 7 U.S. patents, and a Golden Gloves boxer who reached the semi-finals, Wilbern was the 5th or 12 children born to John L. and Maggie Arrowood Davis. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy L.; his mother and father; brothers, Arthur and Earl (infant); sisters, Hazel Swanney and Velma (infant); son, Alan Scott; and stepdaughter, Linda M. Stone. He is survived by sisters, Ruth Patterson of Ocala, Florida, Varnell and husband Richard McMahon of Palm Coast, Florida, Doris Pearson of Gastonia, North Carolina, Janet and husband Paul Beatty of McDonough, Georgia, Marie and husband Clarence Jolly of Gastonia, North Carolina; brothers, Bearl Davis of Mt. Holly, North Carolina, Max and wife Patsy Davis of Mt. Holly, North Carolina; son, Gabriel and wife Roberta of Austin, Texas; daughters, Gerilyn Davis of Marlboro, Massachusetts, Cathy Davis of Van Nuys, California; stepchildren, Deborah MacNeill of Berkeley, California, Terry Diehl of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, S. Patricia and husband Richard Drier of Valdosta, Georgia; 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Wilbern held a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Miami, Florida in 1957 Graduated from Mt. Holly, North Carolina High School in 1948. US Navy, July 1948 to July 1952. He was a life member of the VFW Post 8925, Austin, Texas. Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm on Friday, October 20, at Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 21, at Wilke-Clay-Fish Chapel. Interment will follow at Forest Oaks Memorial Park. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com