Thomas O. Davis Jr.'s Obituary
Thomas 0. Davis, Jr. November 13, 1923-December 30, 2017 Thomas 0. Davis, Jr. age 94 died peacefully on Saturday, December 30, 2017. Thomas was born in Center, Texas to Judge T.O. and Ella Mae Davis. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Jeff Warren, and his younger brother Charles Edward Davis; and by the late Bertie C. Davis, beloved wife of 62 years. Thomas is survived by two daughters and their spouses; Deborah and Kevin Whitsett of Dallas, Texas and Diane and Bill Dunnagan of Spring, Texas, four grandchildren; Emily Dunnagan, Paul Whitsett, Claire Fittz and husband, Michael, and David Dunnagan, two great-grandchildren; Harrison and Caleb Fittz, and several nieces and nephews. Thomas graduated from Center High School, attended one year at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Texas, earning a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering in 1947. WW II interrupted his college education. He received a commission as Ensign, U.S.N.R., at the Notre Dame Midshipman School and served with distinction for three years with half of that time in the Pacific Theater. His last assignment was Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Prestige, an-underwater mine detection vessel. Thomas’s entire 38 year working career was spent with Atlantic Richfield Company where he began his career as a reservoir test man in DeRidder, LA. He later worked in various engineering positions in Odessa, TX and Longview, TX. He served in Casper, WY and Denver, CO as District Engineer in ARCO’s Rocky Mountain District for 8 years. He transferred to Dallas, TX in 1966 and became Principal Buyer for technical equipment in ARCO’s Purchasing Department where he worked until his retirement in 1985. He served as a deacon at the Skillman Avenue Church of Christ for several years and later became an active member of the Prestoncrest Church of Christ. Thomas and Bertie traveled extensively in the United States and Canada. Their favorite place was Ogonquit, Maine where they headquartered many times to see the fall colors in New England. They also traveled to Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Scotland and Western Europe. They especially enjoyed England and returned time and time again to the Cotswolds where they stayed in a little village named Burton-on-the-Water. They also enjoyed visiting the theater in London. One of their most memorable and emotional experiences was when they walked through the Cemetery for the American World War II Veterans in France near the shore of the English Channel. A Memorial Service will be at Restland Memorial Chapel on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to a charity of your choice.
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