Robert Davis

OBITUARY OF ROBERT MORAN "Bob" DAVIS Naselle, Washington resident Robert M. "Bob" Davis, 90, died January 27, 2007 in Astoria, Oregon. The only child of Arthur and Mary (Berry) Davis, he was born November 15, 1916 in Portland. His paternal grandparents were Finnish immigrants who settled in the Salmon Creek area east of Naselle in 1879. His father had moved to Portland to work at his brother Ed's grocery store. Bob grew up in southeast Portland where he graduated from Franklin High School. He then attended trade school in Portland and spent summer months visiting his uncles Walter, Arvo and Bill who lived in Salmon Creek. Bob enlisted with the National Guard in 1934 and served until 1937 and then worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad until inducted into the US Marine Corps in April of 1945. He served in China until honorably discharged in 1946. Following his military duty he worked in Portland before moving to Seattle where he worked for a machinery rental company. He was transferred to Cosmopolis, Washington to be branch manager for a new store there. Bob eventually purchased the store and changed the name to Pacific Machinery Rental, retiring in 1979. His residence was in Aberdeen for many years. Bob inherited the Davis family homestead from his uncles and moved there permanently in 1996. Throughout his life Bob enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also had a lifelong love of aviation, learning to fly seaplanes in Portland in the late 1930s. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and after relinquishing his wings enjoyed building and flying remote control aircraft. Bob was very devoted to his family, took great pride in his family heritage in Salmon Creek and possessed a wonderful sense of humor. Bob met Rhea Davis on an elevator at Roberts Brothers Department store in downtown Portland. Though not related, they shared a common last name and their families had known each other in past years. The couple were married March 28, 1937 in Portland and would have celebrated their 70th anniversary this year. Beside his wife, Bob is survived by sons Robert Bruce Davis of Portland and Charles Andrew Davis of Puyallup, WA; half-brother Allen Nelson of Vancouver, WA; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Ross Andrew Davis. Memorial service will be held Saturday, February 3, 2007, 2:00 PM at Naselle Lutheran Church with a reception following. Cemetery service will be held Monday, February 5, 2007, 12:30 PM at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. The casket will be open Friday, February 2, 10 AM until 5 PM at Penttila's Chapel by The Sea in Long Beach. Memorial donations may be made to the Salmon Creek Cemetery Association, c/o Paul Bjornsgard, 535 Salmon Creek Rd., Naselle, WA 98638. Those wishing may sign the guestbook at www.penttilaschapel.com.