William Franklin Davis [1926-2014]; WWII vet spent career with Owens Corning

4/8/2014

William Franklin Davis, a retired accountant who had a long career with Owens Corning, died Saturday in Waterford at Levis Commons, Perrysburg, where he lived for two years. He was 87.

Marcelene Davis, his wife of 61 years, said he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007.

In 1950, Mr. Davis joined what was then Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. after receiving a bachelor of arts degree in commerce and finance from Penn State University.

He began as a general accounting supervisor at the company’s operations in Huntingdon, Pa. He later was transferred to a plant in Aiken, S.C., where he was accounting cost control manager.

“The company built a new plant in Aiken. He had to work in the warehouse until the factory got built,” Mrs. Davis said.

In 1967, he was promoted to textile accounting/manufacturing accounting supervisor at the headquarters in downtown Toledo, and at that time, he and his family moved to Perrysburg. He retired in 1986.

Mr. Davis was born on July 21, 1926, in Huntingdon to George and Anna Davis. He graduated in 1944 from Huntingdon High School.

He joined the Navy and was assigned as a mail carrier in the Pacific Theater at Okinawa, Japan.

Upon his discharge from the service, he entered college. He and Marcelene married on Sept. 13, 1952, in Huntingdon.

In retirement, Mr. Davis was active in the Lion’s Club and Elks in Bowling Green. He also served one term on the Perrysburg Municipal Planning Commission.

Surviving are his wife; Marcelene; daughters, Catherine Davis and Gail Brahier; sons, Bradford and Randall Davis; sister, Francis Davis Black; eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, Perrysburg, where services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday.

The family suggests tributes to Zoar Lutheran Church or Odyssey-Gentiva Hospice.

Contact Mark Reiter at: markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.