OBITUARY Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Eugene Davis February 11, 1933 – October 10, 2018 Lieutenant Colonel Douglas E. Davis, USAF Retired, 85, of West College Corner, Indiana died October 11, 2018. The youngest of four children, Douglas was born February 11, 1933 to Elmer A. and Hazel Mullins Davis, on the Davis family farm, about a mile and a half from the former Fairfield, Indiana. Douglas attended elementary school at The Fairfield School, where he was noted for being the “fastest in solving arithmetic problems”.
Following his graduation from Union High School in 1951, Douglas continued his education at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Business. During his senior year at Miami, Douglas married the love of his life, the former Mary Belle Wilhelm, at Liberty Methodist Church. Shortly after college graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force to follow his childhood dream of being a pilot.
Douglas honorably served in the Vietnam War where he and the crew ruled the sky in “Patches” the Fairchild C-123K who acquired the nickname after being hit and repaired over a thousand times. The Purple Heart was awarded to Douglas and six crew members for wounds received in battle. Patches and the Ranch Hand program are on display at the Modern Flight Gallery in the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
Douglas retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 1979 and relocated to Tampa, Florida with his family until returning home in 2010. Douglas attended Oxford Baptist Church with his wife. In his leisure time, Douglas was an avid golfer and especially enjoyed Liberty Country Club.
Douglas is survived by his wife, Mary Belle Davis; his daughters: Deborah Tyler of West Chazy, New York; Pamela Roylance and her husband, Steve of Potomac, Maryland; Kathy Gelinas and her husband, Marc of Hamilton, Ohio; his grandchildren: Michael Roylance and his wife, Carlita; Joseph Roylance; Kimberly Tyler; Nicole Gelinas; his oldest sister: Geneva Cappel of Connersville; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Douglas was preceded in death by his siblings: Oleta Wooley and Jim Davis; his son-in-law: Wayne Tyler; his brother-in-law: Carl Cappel and his very close friend, Wendel Luker. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Baker Chapel, College Corner, Ohio with Pastor Rudy Allen of Oxford Baptist Church officiating.
Douglas will then return home for burial in New Fairfield Cemetery, Sims Section with military honors conducted. Friends may visit at the funeral home, Tuesday from 11 a.m. until the time of service where memorial contributions may be made to the ASPCA. For additional information and to send his family condolences, please visit www.
ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.
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