Darwin D. Davis

Darwin D. Davis, of Victoria, passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2016. He was born on December 29, 1929 in Salem, IL to Henderson B. Davis and Madeline Meyer Davis. He had a very early interest in science as a child and majored in chemistry at Southern Illinois University where he graduated as Valedictorian. The National Science Foundation Scholarships were started in 1951 and Darwin was in the first group to be awarded this scholarship which he used to attend the University of Minnesota. There he earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1955. While in Minnesota he met his future wife, Dorothy (Dottie) Nelson, and they were married in 1956. Darwin began his 39 year career in Research & Development with DuPont at the Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware in 1955, was transferred to Orange, TX in 1961 and to Victoria, TX in 1966. He earned about a dozen and a half patents for Du Pont in the field of condensation polymers, nylon, and nylon intermediates. He retired as a Research Fellow in 1994.

Darwin was an emeritus member of the American Chemical Society being active for over 60 years. He was a charter member of the local ACS section and served as its chairman and counselor. He also served on the board and as president of the local Adult Literacy Counsel.

Grace Presbyterian Church was his church home where he served faithfully in many capacities. He was an elder for many terms, Clerk of Session, an adult and youth Sunday School teacher, youth leader and served on many committees and ministries of the church.

During his life he had hobbies of bird watching, gardening and reading. After retiring he enjoyed researching his family’s genealogy and he and Dottie enjoyed many worldwide trips.

Darwin is survived by his loving wife of almost 60 years, by their four children: Stephanie Junkin (Jerry) Austin, TX, Suzanne Van Cleave (Tom) Whitefish Bay, WI, Kathryn McKelvey (Doug) Southlake, TX, and Jonathan Davis (Rachel) Cedar Park, TX: grandchildren, Allison Owen (Jeffrey), Christopher, Marika and Meilan Van Cleave, Lauren, Kyle and Brandon McKelvey and Kevin, Kenny and Kameron Davis: great grandchild: Madeline Owen. He is also survived by his sister Patricia Bredar ( Frank) Salem, IL, a nephew and two nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Grace Presbyterian Church on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 11:00 AM.

The Davis family would like to thank the dedicated staff and caregivers of Hospice of South Texas for their help during the last weeks of his life. Memorial donations may be made to Grace Presbyterian Church, Hospice of South Texas or a charity of your choice.

Words of comfort may be shared at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.