Culver O'Neal Davis
b. 14 December 1921, d. 16 February 2009
- Culver O'Neal Davis was born on 14 December 1921 in Goree, Knox County, Texas.
- He married Esther Maxine Shepherd, daughter of Harry Lee Blair and Vera Marie Walter, on 21 February 1942.
- Culver O'Neal Davis died on 16 February 2009 at age 87 in Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming.
- Esther Maxine Shepherd became a widow at his death.
- He was interred at Lakeview Cemetery, Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming.
- The following appeared on 22 February 2009 in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle: Culver O'Neal Davis, 87, of Cheyenne died Feb. 16 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Extended Care Unit.
Mr. Davis was born Dec. 14, 1921, in Goree, Texas, to Clarence O. Neal Davis, a Methodist minister, and Minnie Reba (Scott) Davis, and had lived in Cheyenne since 1990. He had previously resided in Cheyenne from 1957 until 1972, when he moved to Oklahoma City and later Irving, Texas, to be closer to family.
Following his graduation from high school in Oklahoma City, Mr. Davis enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in 1940. Upon completing basic training at Fort Logan, Denver, Mr. Davis fulfilled his dream of flying when he was selected for the Army Air Corps "Sergeant Pilot" training program. He graduated from flight school, won his wings and was promoted to staff sergeant at Mather Field, Sacramento, Calif., in June 1942. While at flight school in February 1942, he married Maxine E. Shepherd, whom he met during basic training in Denver.
Mr. Davis was sent to North Africa where he served with the 316th Troop Carrier Group logging over 1200 hours flight time from November 1942 to October 1943. His unit suffered heavy losses while dropping paratroops during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 for which it was awarded a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation. Mr. Davis received a field commission as a 2nd lieutenant in August 1943 and was promoted to 1st lieutenant in October 1944.
After the close of World War II, Mr. Davis reenlisted in the Army Air Corps as a non-commissioned officer and began working his way back up through the ranks. In 1950 he entered the atomic weapons program, serving at stations in Colorado, New Mexico, Kentucky, South Dakota, Washington, D.C., Japan and California before retiring with a wartime 100% medical disability in 1957 as a captain with command pilot wings and over 2800 hours flight time.
Mr. Davis was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Retired Officers Association, and Experimental Aircraft Association. He was a 50-year member of Lawrence N. Greenleaf Lodge # 169 A.F. & A.M. of Aurora, Colo., and was a member of the Scottish Rite.
Mr. Davis is survived by his wife of 67 years, Maxine E. Davis of Cheyenne; two sons, Christopher Davis and Kelly (Monica) Davis, both of Cheyenne; two grandchildren, Courtney (Miranda) Davis of Goodfellow AFB, Texas, and Sarah Blankenship of Cheyenne; and two great-grandchildren, Baylin Davis and Duke Blankenship.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Becky Davis, and a sister, Edna Earl Davis.
Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Chapel with Chaplain Carol Carr officiating. Acacia Lodge #11, A.F. & A.M. will conduct a Masonic funeral service.
Cremation has taken place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens under the direction of Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes.
In lieu of flowers, friends should make memorial contributions to the Cheyenne Scottish Rite Childhood Language Clinic, 1820 Capitol Ave., Cheyenne. - The following appeared on 29 April 2010 in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle: Maxine Esther Davis, 88, of Cheyenne died April 26 at Davis Hospice Center.
Mrs. Davis was born Oct. 12, 1921, in Florence, Kan., to Harry Lee Blair and Marie Vera (Walter) Blair. Following the divorce of her parents, Mrs. Davis was adopted by Earl Shepherd, her step father, and was raised in Alliance, Neb.
She had lived in Cheyenne since 1990, having previously resided in Cheyenne from 1957 until 1972 when she moved to Oklahoma City, and later Irving, Texas, to be closer to family.
Following her graduation from high school in Alliance in 1939, Mrs. Davis studied nursing at the St. Agnes Academy in Alliance. On Feb. 21, 1942, she married Culver O. Davis, a United States Army Air Corps pilot, whom she met during his basic training at Fort Logan in Denver, thus beginning her lifelong career as an "Air Force wife."
She was proud to follow her husband to duty stations in California, Wisconsin, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Kentucky, South Dakota, Washington D.C., and Japan.
When her husband retired from the Air Force in 1957, with a war-time 100 percent medical disability, Mrs. Davis assumed the responsibility of being his caregiver, in addition to being his advocate, confidant, and best friend, roles in which she faithfully served until his death in 2009, all while raising their three children.
In her later years, Mrs. Davis and her husband returned to college attending Laramie County Community College, the University of Wyoming and the University of Central Oklahoma.
Mrs. Davis is survived by her two sons, Christopher O. Davis and Kelly S. (Monica) Davis, both of Cheyenne; two grandchildren, Courtney (Miranda) Davis of Goodfellow AFB, Texas, and Sarah Davis of Quinlan, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Baylin Davis and Duke Blankenship; and a brother, Richard (Joan) Shepherd of Boerne, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 67 years, Culver O. Davis; and a daughter, Becky Davis of Tokyo.
Cremation has taken place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens under the direction of Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date with internment at Lakeview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, friends should make memorial contributions to Davis Hospice Center, 6000 Sycamore Road, Cheyenne.
- Last Edited: 31 Dec 2015