John Warren Davis Jr.

John Warren Davis Jr., 80 of Millsboro, Del., formerly of New Castle County, Del., passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012.

Born July 11, 1932, in Boothwyn, Pa., Davis on was one of nine children growing up during the Great Depression. He worked in his family’s auto repair shop, at neighboring farms and his cousin’s butcher shop. He became Future Farmers of America president at A.I. DuPont High School, raising and showing blue-ribbon hogs while working fulltime at Phoenix Steel.

After graduating, Davis worked as a machinist at DuPont in Wilmington, Del., where he would meet and marry Mary Joan Jarrett in 1957. His career was interrupted by the draft in 1953, when he served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Korea and honorably discharged in 1955 with the rank of sergeant, from Company “L,” 21st Infantry Regiment.

He retired from the Engineering Development Lab of Maryland Avenue Shops as senior engineering project technician in 1985. After a brief stint as owner/operator of an Ocean View bait and tackle shop, Davis embarked on a second career as a private charter boat captain, retiring in 1993 for health concerns. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and “modifying” ordinary mechanical equipment to ensure optimum performance. Davis was the Past Master of DuPont Masonic Lodge No. 29 A.F. & A.M. and a member of American Legion Post 811 in Boothwyn, Pa.

Davis is survived by his loving wife, Mary Joan Davis; daughters, Patty Mullikin of Dagsboro, Del., and her husband, Charles, and Joanne Williams of Millsboro, Del., and her husband, Chip; brother, Harry B. Davis of York, Pa.; two sisters, Bea Locke of Garnet Valley, Pa., and Anna Eleanor King and her husband, John, of Laurel, Md.; sister-in-law, Lucy Davis of Boothwyn, Pa.; four grandchildren, C.J. and Will Mullikin, and Dustin and Amanda Williams; a dear cousin, G. Norman Davis of Holladay, Tenn.; and 20 nieces and nephews.

A Masonic service was scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, at Melson Funeral Services in Millsboro, Del., through which condolences may be sent online at melsonfuneralservices.com Interment was to be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice; 100 Patriots Way; Milford, DE 19963.