Great Papa Davis

We are saddened this week by the loss of Eric's grandfather, Marvin Davis. Today we attended a beautiful service. It was a new experience for the kids as they have never been to a funeral. Eric's dad wrote the following eulogy that was read during the funeral and has touched us all.

Marvin was a part of that generation who was tempered by the trials of the Great Depression and World War II. Throughout his life he reflected the values of "America's Greatest Generation." He was always proud of his country and his service to it. One of the earliest remembrances of both his grandsons, Eric and Andrew, was of raising and saluting the flag on the pole that stood at his home in Greenfield, Indiana, and then later in Arkansas. God, Country, Family - these are the embodiment of the values of Marvin and those of his generation.

His life always centered around his family or in this case his families as he was blessed to have two. He was happily married to his first wife, Janet, for over 45 years. They had two children - Richard and Barbara - and lived and worked and raised a family in Greenfield, Indiana, until both Marvin and Janet retired to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. One of the reasons they moved to Arkansas was to be closer to their beloved daughter, Barbara, and their two grandsons - Eric and Andrew - who resided in Texas. After Janet died in 1991, Marvin married Emma Jane and together they enjoyed their senior years living in Hot Springs Village and then later in Thomasville, Georgia.

The light of Marvin's life was always his daughter, Barbara, and grandsons, Eric and Andrew. He was particularly proud when Barbara graduated from Texas Women's University and received her degree in Education. Teaching and learning were important to Marvin and he felt teaching was the noblest of professions. Marvin was in College Station when Eric and Andrew graduated from Texas A&M. He was proud of his two Aggies - but maybe secretly wished they had gone to his adopted state's University and become Razorbacks.

He very much enjoyed his grandsons, Eric and Andrew. He would take them fishing at Lake DeGray or at the lakes in Hot Springs Village. They never caught much but whatever they caught was a big deal - big enough that the memories are still vivid. He liked to play baseball with them and taught them to throw a fastball into his old catcher's mitt. He would take them to play miniature gold and taught them to play checkers - somehow the grandkids always won. Once when Phil, Barbara and the boys left Grandma and Grandpa's house to return to Texas and inadvertently left the boy's pet turtle in Arkansas, Marvin jumped in the car and raced ahead, flagged them down, and successfully returned the turtle to his rightful owners. He was proud that both Eric and Andrew played high school basketball since he was 6'4" tall and played high school basketball in Illinois. He often attended games when the boys played and later when Eric became a high school basketball coach.

Marvin took pleasure in the simpler things of life - whether it was swinging Barbara on the swing in the Black Walnut tree in Greenfield, taking drives on Sunday afternoon, going to a baseball game in Cincinnati, playing Rummikub with Jane and his family, reading a book, nodding off to sleep while watching the Atlanta Braves on TV, holding his great-grandchildren, planting flowers in his garden, sitting under the Oak trees at Susina, or eating a good meal at a family gathering. Marvin lived a good life. He lived a long life. He was fortunate to have two loving wives (at separate times, of course) and wonderful children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His grandson Eric put it best, "... at 5:15pm on Tuesday my mom, Andrew and I held his hand as he took his final breath on this earth and joined our Lord. He was 90 years old. He no longer suffers and was very peaceful when he passed away. He waited for Andrew to get here from San Antonio today and for me to get to his home from work this afternoon. Then when we were all there he decided that it was time. Still you know whether the person is 9 or 90 it is never easy to relinquish a loved one."

"My grandfather was a good, very uncomplicated, man. He loved his country and his family...He served our country in the Pacific Theater of World War II and took very seriously his role as an American. He is part of the greatest generation that our country might want to look to for life lessons. His generosity in always trying to give Andrew and I things that were meaningful to him was a part of every visit it seemed. I am proud to have known him and proud of what he constantly tried to teach us about life."

"This was a new experience for me. Watching a person leave this realm and pass on to the next is a sobering experience. Everyone knows this already but, in our busy lives, it bears repeating. My grandfather left this world with literally nothing. And it will be the same with us. Life is not about material possession - it is about creating experiences for our families and our loved ones. That is the legacy and remembrance we leave."

Marvin Davis - husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather - God has blessed. Rest in Peace.

The Honor Guard presented Eric's mom with his American flag.
We had a celebration dinner after the funeral. The kids were excited to have RC Cola. This was Great Papa's favorite drink. Ashlyn is also holding Great Papa's favorite candy.

William and the girls!