Davis Walker

Davis Walker September 2, 1941-December 25, 2015 Davis Walker entered into eternal rest on the evening of December 25, after a lively, colorful, fruitful life and a glorious Christmas celebration at his home in Hollywood with his wife, Gail, and all their children and grandchildren. Davis was born in Bronxville, N.Y., on September 2, 1941, to Wallace and Mary Walker. He spent most of his youth in Barrington, R.I., graduating from Providence Country Day School. After earning degrees in economics and business administration from the University of New Hampshire in 1964, Davis served for four years as a procurement officer at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, earning the rank of Captain. In 1968, he and his family moved to Blacksburg, Va., where he served for the next 32 years with Litton System’s Poly-Scientific Division, first as a sales engineer/contract administrator and later as Vice President for Human Resources. After retiring from Poly-Scientific in 2000, Davis worked as a marketing and business development consultant for Benefit Services, Inc., in Salem, Va., until 2008. After moving to Hollywood, SC in 2004, he served on the Ironwood Homeowners Board and could often be found working behind the clubhouse grill or tidying the fairways at the Links at Stono Golf Club in his spare time. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Davis was known as a tireless public servant with a deep affection for his community and those who lived in it. For 40 years, children walking down the street in Blacksburg were struck by his uncanny, not-so-coincidental resemblance to Santa Claus in the Blacksburg Christmas Parade. He also served as on the Montgomery Regional Hospital’s Board of Trustees, as senior warden and vestry member at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Blacksburg, as a volunteer with Hospice, and in the kitchen at Trinity Episcopal Church on Edisto Island. He received several awards for his civic involvement, including the Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce and the Distinguished Volunteer Award (with 30 years of service) by the Montgomery County United Way. Davis was especially active in the Blacksburg Kiwanis Club and the Kiwanis Club of Charleston, where he was known by all as the “heavy lifter” who was always the first to arrive and the last to leave the clubs’ many community-service projects. For his service to the Kiwanis Club, he was recognized with the President’s Award from the Blacksburg Kiwanis Club, the GiI Brooks Memorial Kiwanian of the Year Award from the Kiwanis Club of Charleston and the Legion of Honor from Kiwanis International. Davis never sought to be the center of attention, but his strength and generosity of spirit drew others irresistibly near and made him the true life of every social function, family reunion, civic organization and volunteer project in which he participated. He was known by all as a man who enjoyed a good laugh and the occasional irreverent joke, but most of all as a man who lived his life in full and constant observance of his faith’s highest directive, to love his God and his fellow man with his whole heart. Though his body is now at rest, his spirit remains as strong as ever and will continue to live in the hearts of those of us fortunate to know him during his time here on Earth. Davis treasured his family above all else and is survived by his loving wife, Gail of 51 years; daughters, Leigh Manzi and Kim Church (John); son, Christopher (Nancy); sister, Louise Hunter; eight grandchildren; and five nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial gifts be made to the Davis Walker Heart Fund, payable to the MUSC Foundation, 18 Bee Street, SPO 450, Charleston SC 29425, or the Wounded Warriors Fund. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 8, 2016 at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 2501 Bees Ferry Rd, Charleston, SC 29414. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Trinity Episcopal Church at 1589 Highway 174 on Edisto Island, SC 29438. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.mcalister-smith.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 2501 BEES FERRY ROAD, CHARLESTON, SC 29414, (843) 722-8371.

Visitation:
Friday, January 8, 2016