Charles Orval Davis

Charles Orval Davis, born July 27, 1917 in North Long Beach, California was the 4th child of Orval & Sarah (Stinson) Davis. He graduated from David Staar Jordan High School, participating in basketball as the captain and center and was named to the all-star squad in the intermediate schools division of the So Counties tournaments held during the Christmas holidays at Huntington Beach. He also held the record for several years in pole vault, jumping 12 ft 6 in with a bamboo pole. As a young boy he was picked up by car by Amelia Earhart for transportation to the airport, but turned down a plane ride, not knowing who she was. He accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized at the Horseshoe Pier in Los Angeles, California in 1933.

On June 4, 1938 he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Lorene Elliott and they had three children.

Jobs were hard to find at the end of the great depression so his coach got him a job at Standard Brands where he worked for three years. He trained as a machinist at night school and worked in the shipyards of Long Beach Harbor.

In 1944 he moved his family to Ashland, Oregon which began his long career in the timber industry. He became a mechanic and millwright while working at Magnolia-Lithia Lumber Co. He worked for other lumber companies holding various positions from Shop Foreman, truck boss, running a Gang Mill and logging.

In 1958 the family moved to Grants Pass, Oregon where he worked for Pro-Joe, Timber Products, Co-Gap, Custom Plywood, So OR Plywood and closed his career after 11 years, as Master Mechanic for Tim Ply from 1969-1980.

After Ruth’s passing in June of 1982 he married Martha Bayless Fry November 17, 1983.

Chuck was very active in his churches as Deacon, Usher, Sunday School Teacher, and Choir. He played the trumpet and ukulele for many church specials and enjoyed singing in his later years with his sons at church and in retirement homes.

He enjoyed fishing, camping, woodworking, furniture design and building, golf, and was very family-oriented. Chuck’s biggest treasure was knowing Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

He leaves behind his wife of 28 years, Martha; children, Robert Davis (Sally) of Grants Pass, Glenn Davis (Jean) of Grants Pass, Rebecca Davis-Brandt (Greg) of McMinnville, Oregon and extended children, Nadine Davis (Darryl) of Vancouver, Washington, and Bruce Fry (Kathy) of Bend, Oregon; 22 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, and sisters, and a grandson, Douglas Robert Davis.

A celebration of life will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, July 28, 2012 at Hugo Community Church. Private services and mausoleum entombment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Hugo Community Church marked Charles Davis Memorial, PO Box 688, Merlin, Oregon 97532 or www.hugochurch.questoffice.net.