Wayne Man Dies at 98; Was WWII Staff Sergeant, 34-Year Exxon Employee

Image and obituary courtesy Donohue Funeral Home.

John F. Davis of Wayne, PA died peacefully at the Coatesville VA Hospice on August 14, 2016. He was 98 years old. His children gathered together in his last days and he was lovingly cared for by them and the nurses at Paoli Hospital and the VA Hospice.

Born in Pottsville, PA he was pre-deceased by his parents Griffith Davis and Edna Mae Zimmerman as well as two brothers, David and Robert. Married for 61 years to the late Marie (nee Hartman), he and his wife together raised five children- Barbara Schraeder (Paul), Kathleen Quarto (Michael), John Davis (Alyce), Lynne Medley, Marie Samohod (Michael).

He is survived by 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. John served 4 years in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1945 achieving the level of Staff Sergeant. After discharge, he worked for 34 years for Exxon Corporation before retiring in 1980.

His Army training served him well in both parenting skills and life skills as he remained “in charge” all of his life, whether captaining his boat in Rehoboth with family, shopping for and cooking his meals, dividend investing in his beloved Exxon, and checking his nightly Lottery number (the hedge for his stock).

He was fiercely independent and he lived on his own with the love and support of his children until his tired body and heart finally gave out. He will be missed. Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Friday August 19, 2016 11:00 AM – 12:20 PM at The DONOHUE FUNERAL HOME 366 W. Lancaster Ave. Wayne, PA followed by his funeral service 12:30 PM. Interment to follow at 2:30 PM; Northwood Cemetery 1501 Haines St. Phila., PA 19126. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Coatesville VA Hospice Center, 1400 Black Horse Hill Road, Coatesville, PA 19320. Online condolences at www.donohuefuneralhome.com.