FRANCIS DAVIS

Francis Eldy Davis crossed over February 28, 2022 at age 96. He was born October 17, 1925 to Eldy and Helen (Hargett) Davis in Arkansas City, Kansas, and then at age 12 they moved to Wichita, Kansas. He served in the US Navy during WW2 as a radio technician aboard the USS Wren in the Pacific. He married Marjorie (Sipe) Davis on June 13, 1948 in Winfield, Kansas. He was a lifelong Amateur Radio enthusiast and passed this enthusiasm along to his son and grandson. He worked for Boeing on the B47 and B52 aircraft as an electrician and then was contracted to the NASA program at Huntsville, Alabama during the start of the space projects in the 1960s. He was involved in the computers for the stages of separation during the liftoffs of the space craft. He was part of the crew that worked on the Lunar Rover, constructing the computer (homing device) that helped the astronauts return to their capsule after landing on the Moon. He and all employees were also involved when the Apollo 13 had a navigational error in space and it was “all hands on deck” to get the astronauts home. After this, there was a big layoff and they moved to Appleton, Wisconsin in 1970 and was hired a few months later as an Outside Plant Engineer in Green Bay for Wisconsin Bell. He retired from Ameritech in 1990. He was passionate about his family. The word “can't” was never allowed around him. He was a devout member of the churches of Christ in the cities he lived in, being an Elder in one of them and was currently a member of Mason Street Church of Christ in Appleton.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Marjorie Davis, a son, Jerry (Ellen) of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and a daughter, Virginia (Alfred) Ducommun of Neenah, Wisconsin. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Trina Ducommun, Peter Ducommun (special friend, Tanya and two girls), Thomas (Sheri) Ducommun, Rebecca (Ducommun) Montgomery, Edward (Tonya) Davis, Patrick (Elizabeth) Davis, Timothy Davis (special friend, Audrey and two girls), and Stephen Davis; 13 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandson, a sister, Alberta Bruner, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Sylvia Davis and Roberta Kohl.

A special thanks for all the care of Dr. Travis Kroner, Carol, and his staff, the staff at CopperStone Assisted Living and their loving care, and Moments Hospice, Brooke and Danielle. He will be missed greatly by many family and friends, especially Bob and Mary Brown, John and Rhonda Boor, Lynda and Eric Bruner in their constant visits with him until the end.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Mason Street Church of Christ, 2600 N. Mason Street, Appleton. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:00 am until the time of the service. After the service, military honors will be presented, and lunch will follow immediately afterwards. We will miss you and know you will have fair winds and following seas.