Ethel Elizabeth Measor Davis

Ethel was born in Midland, Ontario, Canada to the late William G. Measor and Eliza Ward Measor. Just before her second birthday, her family, including two older sisters, moved to Arlington, Virginia. Her father owned and operated a flourishing painting and decorating business in the Washington, DC area.

She attended Arlington public schools and graduated from Washington Lee high School in 1938. By this time she had already met George R. Davis to whom she would be married in 1940. On their first date George informed her that he would marry her, to which she replied with her well-known laugh and said, “oh, really!”

When George enlisted in the Navy during WWII, he asked Ethel to move home to be with her mother who was in poor health. During the three years he was in the South Pacific, she cared for her mother and proudly volunteered for the Red Cross. Caring for others in day-to-day life or in times of illness and impending death became a way of life for Ethel.

Due to George’s financial career, the family made several moves: from Arlington to Philadelphia, to Albany, NY, back to Arlington, to Dallas, TX, and back to Arlington. Ethel took each move in stride, never complained, and saw each as an opportunity. George came home and announced the moves and Ethel started to prepare for the movers while he found the new house, which was always exactly the right one! In each location Ethel made fast and life-long friends with whom she kept in touch until her death. Her last move to Lynchburg four years ago proved no different – her daughter and family were moving to Lynchburg where her son was already residing. She quickly announced that she would move as well and proceeded to call the movers and arrange for her apartment at The Summit, all at the age of 89! She made many new friends among the residents and staff and thoroughly enjoyed her days there.

Ethel was a devout Christian who lived her faith every day, a devoted wife who put her lipstick and pearls on to cook breakfast every morning for George, and a selfless, loving mother, grandmother and friend!

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Doris L. Gibbs and Phyllis R. Field.

She was a loving mother and grandmother and is survived by one son, Thomas William Davis and his wife Kay, one daughter, Pamela Davis Orr and her husband David, all of Lynchburg; six grandchildren, Benjamin P. Davis and wife Deanna, Lindsay D. Mutchler and husband Jason, Daniel D. Orr and wife Gardner, Liza A. Davis, Jane M. Davis and Brooke E. Orr and two great granddaughters, Campbell K. Davis and Emerson E. Mutchler; two nieces and one nephew.

A memorial service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 22, 2014 at Whitten Timberlake Chapel with the Rev. Glen Land officiating. Inurnment will be scheduled for a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Hopetree Family Services, P.O. Box 849 Salem, VA 24153. www.hopetreefs.org.