Charles Edwin Davis, “Charlie,” 91, of 401 Rio Concho Drive in San Angelo, Texas, died peacefully in his sleep at home the morning of January 7, 2018. Born in Newnan, Georgia on August 19, 1926, Charlie (known as “Ed” during his early life in Georgia) became one of the eight children of Peter James Davis and Freddie Callie Manley Davis.
After his schooling in Georgia as a Civil Engineer, Charlie joined the Navy. He and his people felt strongly about eradicating the growing threat known as Adolf Hitler and in a few years, America joined the fray. With his Civil Engineering background, Charlie soon found himself in the illustrious Seabees. These skilled construction workers and engineers orchestrated the massive undertaking of creating theaters for battle, naval bases, military airports and the like. After Pearl Harbor in ‘41, Charles Davis found himself in the Pacific Theater--his unit of Seebeas based in Guadalcanal, where they were tasked with building run ways for both Allied fighter planes and huge transport aircraft such as the Douglas C-47 Skytrain. Charlie rarely spoke of the experience, except to recall the fighter planes--shot up during battle--attempting to land at Guadalcanal and sometimes crashing horrifically. These hunks of mangled, burning metal were quickly removed by Charlie and his crane crew so the next incoming pilot could have a chance at making a landing. In June 1946, Charlie was honorably discharged from the 1st Special U.S. Navy Construction Battery as a Machine Mate, 2nd Class.
Throughout his youth and during his service to his country, Charlie exhibited a passion for baseball. Aside from his enthusiasm, rounding up teams and games at every chance--Charlie proved quite good at it. Although his friends and family showed no surprise, Charlie seemed shocked when the Henderson “Oilers” of East Texas League (which was affiliated with the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Senators) sent him a contract in September of 1950 with instructions to report for spring training in 1951. Charlie admitted that he never made it past the farm team, but he felt thrilled to have been a part of such a great professional athletic association and to play semi-pro ball.
After a few years with the Oilers, Charlie took a position with Union Texas Petroleum as Manager of Construction. For 36 years he built pipelines from the swamps of Louisiana to the mountains of Montana, and throughout North America when Union Texas merged with British Petroleum. Along the way, he married his first love, Jackie Cabe Lloyd in 1964, but lost her to cancer in 2003.
Charlie lived a fairly lonesome life after that until he remembered a woman he had met in the early 50’s in Big Lake, Texas. She, he recalled, had to be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen! On a lark he drove to Big Lake and inquired about Patricia Carter. Residents knew Pat because she often came to Big Lake to visit her mother, Margaret Schooler. Charlie came away with an ear -full. Pat Carter Gosney Thornton lived in San Angelo, not too far from his house--and she was a widow!
By 2005 he had come up with a plan and Pat’s address. One day in November, Charlie Davis walked up to Pat Thornton’s front door and rang the bell. This was a complete surprise for the widow, but she listened as he explained how they had met, somewhat recalling the encounter over 50 years ago! He wooed her for several months, then they were married on January 6, 2006 and Charlie made good on his promises to provide for her in “grand style.” Pat promised him he would now be part of a big family, and she made good on hers. The quiet, introverted Charlie found himself surrounded by Pat’s boisterous, happy family. He suffered through many family get-togethers with a grim, long suffering face--but eventually a miracle happened, Charlie began to feel the love and kindness they had all extended to him and even to return it!
When his “Patsy” passed on March 22, 2015, Charlie despaired, retreating into himself again. But the Thornton family would have none of that--continuing to include him in their gatherings and caring for him as a member of the family. His last Christmas at Tom and Pam Thornton’s house on December 25, 2017 seemed to be his best ever, as he enjoyed the food and camaraderie and laughed at the antics of the grandchildren, particularly enjoying the company of one and a half year-old Melvin Drake.
Charlie is survived by his “loving” adopted family, step-son Tom Thornton and wife Pam, their children Eric Thornton and Tiana Lee Hennings and their families and by many nieces and nephews from his seven siblings. And by his long time caregiver and friend Arlene Montez. He was proceeded in death by his father and mother, P.J. Davis and Freddie Callie Manley Davis and by his siblings, Joe Davis, Ann Davis, Martha Sibley, Alyce McDaniel, Jean Capes, Martel Freeman and Catherine Garrett, James Davis, Hugh Davis, and Betty Bohannon.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Johnson’s Funeral Home in San Angelo. The service will be graveside at Johnson’s Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens at 1pm Friday, January 12th. It will be officiated by Rev. Jay Johnson of San Angelo’s Cowboy Church. Memorials can be made to San Angelo Cowboy Church, 4001 N. Chadbourne, San Angelo, TX 76903 or a charity of your choice.
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