Obituary of Walter Richard Davis

Walter Richard "Dick" Davis, composer, professor of modern languages/linguistics, model airplane enthusiast, and local historian died peacefully at his historic home in Ebensburg on Saturday August 1, 2015. He was 93. Dick Davis was born July 24, 1922 in Ebensburg to Harry E. Pep Davis, a stone mason, and Evelyn Davis, a home maker. Dick was raised in Ebensburg, and attended Central Cambria High School. His college education was interrupted by the Second World War where he served in the Army 84th Infantry s campaign at the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded a Purple Heart and 2 Bronze stars with valor. Following the war, he remained in the Army and attended the City College of New York graduating Phi Beta Kappa with Honors in French and a degree in Modern Languages. In New York, he met his beloved wife Doris Rosenblatt Davis. He attended the distinguished Army Language School in Monterey, CA and then worked as an Army military attaché at US embassies in Egypt, Mexico, France, and Belgium. He retired from the military and returned to Ebensburg in 1964 where he became a Professor of Modern Languages/Linguistics at St. Francis University until his retirement in 1989. Dick was known to all as a Renaissance Man with a broad intellect and interests. His music compositions were played at the National Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City, Washington, DC, Saint Francis University, and other venues. In the 1970 s he returned to a passion from his youth, model airplane building and flying, and later founded Allegheny R/C Specialties that sold supplies for model airplane builders and flyers. In retirement, he contributed significantly to enhancing awareness of local history including Cambria County, Ebensburg and his family s home, and the Welsh Congregational Church in Ebensburg. He authored the guides Historic Ebensburg and On the Pioneer Trail in Cambria County and served as the on-site consultant for the dual language BBC documentary Welsh Lion filmed in Ebensburg. He translated 100 years of Welsh records for the Congregational Church and authored the commemorative 50th Anniversary volume of the American Name Society called Welsh Bynames on the Allegheny . Dick contracted polio in 1952 while on service for the US Army in Egypt and lost use of his legs. Through considerable rehabilitation and effort on his part, and contrary to the prognosis of his doctors, he was able to walk again. Post-polio syndrome took his legs in his later years, but he remarkably remained independent in his beloved, childhood home (the oldest surviving home in Cambria County) to the end. Dick was preceded by his loving wife and artist, Doris Rosenblatt Davis. He will be sorely missed by his daughter, Deborah Davis Grazier of CT; son, Dr. Richard E. Davis and his wife Dr. Lee A. Niswander of CO; four grandchildren, Lace Grazier of CA, Duncan Grazier and his wife Lauren of NYC, Elliott Davis of CO, and Rebecca E. Grazier and her husband William Pierson of Pittsburgh; and one great grandchild, Audrey Grazier of VA. And since to look at things in bloom Fifty springs are little room, About the woodlands I will go To see the cherry hung with snow From A.E. Housman, "Loveliest of trees, the cherry now, A Shropshire Lad A celebratory memorial will be held Sunday October 11 at 1 PM at the Ebensburg United Church of Christ.