Doris Virginia Davis Bywater

Doris Bywater was born in Washington, D.C., the first child of Freda M. and Audus T. Davis. She grew up in Arlington, Virginia with her mother, father, and sister Edna. Her mother, Freda, was from Great Falls, Virginia, and her father, Audus, was from Liberty, Missouri. Audus served as Chief Clerk of the U.S. Postal Service, and Freda was often invited to tea at the White House, including with Eleanor Roosevelt.

Doris met her husband, Robert Grant Bywater (Bob), at a Naval Academy dance in Annapolis. Bob was from Utah, and attended the Naval Academy from 1934-1938. Doris and Bob married in 1940 in Salt Lake City. During her engagement, Doris graduated from Strayer Business College in Arlington, and worked for two years as a secretary with the federal government.

During World War II, Bob was stationed in the Pacific and Doris moved back home with her parents and baby daughter Virginia, born in 1942. She had a second daughter, Sharon, in 1949, while Bob was working at the Pentagon. The family moved to San Diego briefly in 1955. They were stationed in Hawaii for two years, and moved back to California for good in 1959, where Bob retired from the Navy with the rank of Commander. He continued his career in defense engineering, and took part in the early development of the computer industry. Doris thought California was like “heaven.” They lived in Pacific Palisades, Santa Barbara, and finally Fallbrook, where they retired.

Doris worked for several years at the Santa Barbara Public Library. Whenever she could, she played bridge, her lifetime hobby. She was also an avid gardener who grew beautiful roses, and a gracious hostess. In Fallbrook, she and Bob played golf and explored the many small towns along the coast from Oceanside to La Jolla. They really enjoyed their retirement. In her last years at Brookdale Senior Living in San Marcos, California, Doris had many friends and still enjoyed playing bridge, reading the San Diego Union Tribune, and keeping up with sports. Her favorite golfer was Phil Mickelson.

Doris is remembered with love by her two daughters and two nephews in California as well as by nephews and nieces on Bob’s side of the family in Salt Lake City.