WELLSVILLE – William F. Davis, 83, passed away on Wednesday (February 22, 2023) at Maple City Rehabilitation and Nursing Center following a lengthy illness.
Mr. Davis was born on March 13, 1939 in North Hornell to Lewis F. and Margaret Angielee (Dodge) Davis. He was a 1958 graduate of Andover Central School. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1958 to 1962 after which he served an additional two years in the Marine Corps Reserve. On May 1, 1970 in Cuba Frank married the love of his life, Rosemary Helen Harmon, who survives.
Upon leaving military service, Frank began working at Dresser Rand in Wellsville where he retired in 2001.
Along with his wife of 53 years, Frank is survived by two daughters, Sherry Yurcic and Kim (Stu) Blitz both of Wellsville; a sister, Rosetta Howell of Dundee; three grandchildren, Amy (George) Bliss, Heather (Colby) Klesa and Cathy Buckley; five great grandchildren, Jacob Bliss, Isabel Klesa, Chloee Klesa, Karter Ordiway and Brantley Green; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Frank was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Michael Yurcic and three siblings, Anna Lininger, Alfred Davis, and Ruth Booth.
Frank was a Marine, through and through. His military service left a lifetime impression on him and he relished reminiscing about those days. Also, in his younger days, he went out fishing as often as he could.
He and Rosemary enjoyed dining at Olean Castle, Beef Haus, and especially Moonwinks Restaurant where many of the family milestones were celebrated. Dancing was a favorite activity, especially slow dancing at The Heater in Wellsville. Frank appreciated relaxing with a picnic lunch at Letchworth State Park. He was an avid bird watcher as well. When he relaxed indoors, it was often while watching his favorite John Wayne movies.
Memorable vacations for Frank were several trips that included air travel—Cancun, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon.
Frank was a lifetime member of the Wellsville American Legion and was a member of the VFW in Wellsville. He was also a member of International Association of Machinists Local 1580 during his vocation at Dresser-Rand.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday (February 28, 2023) from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Scio/Wellsville. The funeral service will be held immediately afterward at 12:00, with Rev. Dr. Karen Heil Borchert of Grace United Church officiating. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery, Scio, where full military honors will be rendered by the combined Andover and Wellsville American Legion and the United States Marine Corps.
Memorial contributions in Frank’s name may be made to the Allegany County Office for the Aging, 6085 State Route 19N, Belmont NY 14813; the SPCA Serving Allegany County, PO Box 381, Wellsville NY 14895; or the Alzheimer’s Association of Western New York, 6400 Sheridan Drive, Suite 320, Amherst NY, 14221. © 2022 Baker-Swan Funeral Home.
I am very sorry about the passing of a person whom I have known since kindergarten. “Frank” Davis and I grew up as neighbors on Hill Street in Andover, NY. During grade school, Frank and I, along with other schoolmates, would walk together from Hill Street to the school. We crossed the bridge over the creek near Frank’s house and then crossed the busy Erie Railroad tracks to get to the school ground. During the winter months, our little legs would wade through the snow going to school and returning to our homes after 3:00 pm. When we were in high school, Frank and I spent a year caring the high school English / Latin teacher from her car in the school’s parking lot for teachers to her second-floor classroom; the teacher had Muscular Dystrophy, and it had progressed to where it was too difficult for her to climb the stairs and there was no elevator. Frank and I would hold each other’s wrists with our hands to make a square “seat” to carry the teacher. Also, after school we would reverse the carry to take her from classroom to her car. These were our best moments as schoolmates.
I am so sorry to learn of Franks passing. He was a very quiet person in school and I am glad to read about the accomplishments and joyful life he led through all these years since school. I was one of those kids that took the route past his house and over the tracks to school. Good memories. God bless.