Foster Gilmore Davis,Sr.

Foster Gilmore Davis, Sr., 97, passed away early Sunday morning, July 24, 2011, at his home in Tallahassee. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen Walters Davis. The funeral service will be held at 11:00AM, EDT, Wednesday, July 27, 2011 in the sanctuary of Trinity United Methodist Church in Tallahassee. The Rev. Wayne Curry and the Rev. Nathan Wilder, Mr. Davis' grandson will officiate. The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 26, from 6:00PM until 8:00PM at Bevis Funeral Home of Tallahassee (850/385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com). Mr. Davis loved his country; his family; and most of all, he loved God. His strong Christian faith was most prominent in his life, right to the very end. Gifts in memory of Mr. Davis may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, Post Office Box 1086, Tallahassee, FL 32302; Avon Park Camp Association, Inc., 1001 West Lake Isis Avenue, Avon Park, FL 33825; or Indian Springs Holiness Camp Ground (IndianSpringsCampMeeting.org), Post Office Box 1742 Mableton, GA 30126. He was born in Gadsden County, November 11, 1913 to Eugene and Minnie Richardson Davis, who preceded him in death. He operated for many years the Davis Brickyard in Gadsden County. His hand made bricks were used in the construction of many of Tallahassee's finer buildings, included the Armory on North Monroe (now the Senior Center). Following the outbreak of World War II Mr. Davis enlisted in the United States Army and served with distinction in the African and European Theaters of operation, and participated in seven campaigns and two invasions. As a member of General George Patton's staff, Lieutenant Davis participated in the Battle of the Bulge. For his meritorious service he earned the Bronze Star Medal, with Oak Leaf Cluster in connection with operations against the enemy near Ederen, Germany on November 21, 1944. Lt. Davis was also the recipient of a Purple Heart, the French Fourrag`ere and the Belgium Croix-de-Guerre. At the conclusion of World War II, Mr. Davis returned home and later retired from the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles. He was a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church. Other survivors include three children, Terry Wilder (and her husband Fred), Julie Mickler and Gil Davis (and his wife Deborah), all of Tallahassee; two brothers, James Davis (and his wife Rochelle) and Preston Davis (and his wife Georgia), both of Tallahassee; and one sister, Lillian Byrd (and her husband Buddy), also of Tallahassee. Mr. Davis is also survived by seven grandchildren, Shannon Wilder and Lauren Heitmeyer, both of Tallahassee, Erin Remy of Cincinnati, Will Mickler of Kissimmee, Nathan Wilder of Orlando, Sarah Mickler of Jacksonville and Ben Wilder of Nashville; and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. Davis was also preceded in death by two sisters, Emily Jenkins of Tallahassee and Mary Margaret Forbes of Hawaii; and two brothers, George I. Davis and Eugene M. "Doodle" Davis, both of Tallahassee.

Tributes

Foster Gilmore Davis,Sr.

November 11, 1913 - July 24, 2011