William Harold Davis' Obituary
William Harold Davis was born in Texarkana, Texas, on June 9, 1921 to John and Lilly Davis. He was the youngest of five children, and was raised in Hope, Arkansas. Following graduation from high school, he joined the U. S. Navy in 1940. He served during World War II and the Korean War. During World War II, he was stationed on the USS Lexington when it was sunk by enemy action in the Battle of the Coral Sea. He was later assigned to the USS Block Island, which was torpedoed off the Canary Islands and lost on May 29, 1944. His story of heroism and triumph from these events early in his Naval career was not a surprise to anyone who knew him. He retired from the Navy in June 1960.While waiting for his assignment to the USS Block Island, he met Irene Johnson in Seattle, Washington, at a USO event in 1943. They married on April 4, 1944, in Norfolk, Virginia. He is predeceased by Irene, who was the love of his life. They had two children, William Harold Davis, Jr., and Laurie Long Martin. He was the proud grandparent of Tobin Davis, Jordan Davis, Garrison Davis, Jesse Long, Austin Long, Cody Long, and Hayley Kathol. He was the great-grandfather to eight grandchildren: Emma, Jackson, Jonathan, Andrew, Conner, Asher, Harlow, and Birdie.Following his service in the military, “Bill” as he was known by his friends, became an insurance agent until his retirement in 1986.He and Irene came to faith in Christ in 1953. They both loved and served the Lord with all their hearts from that moment on. For many years, Bill served on numerous boards, both locally and for the district of the Assembly of God Church, and for 39 years he led the Light for the Lost annual fund raising program to support missionaries around the world.Bill was faithful to God, his church, his family, and his friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
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