Edward Williston Davis | Eastern North Carolina Now

May 29, 1931 - December 21, 2019
    Mr. Edward Williston Davis, age 88, of Raleigh, NC, died on December 21, 2019.

    Mr. Davis was born in Albany, NY on May 29, 1931, the second son of the late Hobart Williston and Florence Follwell Davis. He spent his boyhood and early school years in Syracuse, NY and attended Nottingham High School.

    He graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1953, where he was a member of Sigma Chi, Phi Epsilon Kappa, W. Clan, and the varsity baseball team for 3 years. After graduation he returned to Syracuse and joined the Kemper Insurance Group as Assistant to the Production Manager. Mr. Davis was a member of the Syracuse Jr. Chamber of Commerce and was one of the first coaches of Southside Little League Baseball. He also played third base on the 1955 Valley Merchants Championship Team in the Central New York Semi-Professional League.

    In 1956 he accepted a position with the New York Telephone Company in their Accounting Department and served in various positions in upstate NY. That same year he had the good fortune to marry Anne King (Syracuse University, 1953). In 1960 Mr. Davis was transferred to NY City headquarters and moved to Ridgewood and then Ramsey, NJ. After an assignment which involved the mechanization of the two NY Overseas Gateway Toll Processing Centers, he accepted a position with AT&T's International Services in 1979 and was part of an inter-departmental task force charged with improving international services and reducing toll uncollectibles and fraud. He retired from AT&T in May of 1987.

    While in Ramsey he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and served terms as a Deacon, Elder, and Trustee. He was also a charter member the Ramsey "Duffers" Golf Group, which granted him the Captain's Cup for his many annual tournament wins.

    After retirement the Davises moved to Washington, NC in 1989. Mr. Davis was a Life member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, a member of the First United Methodist church, and was a member of the Washington Yacht and Country Club and the WYCC Senior Gold Association for 20 years.

    He is survived by his loving daughter and son-in-law Christine Davis and Paul Spencer Tew of Zebulon, NC and granddaughters, Julia Anne Tew and Alexandra Davis Tew, both of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Elizabeth S. Davis of Akron, Ohio and nieces Elizabeth Davis Meyer and husband, Timothy Meyer, of Akron, Ohio, Dr. Carolyn Davis and husband, Judge Kevin Ohlson of Vienna, VA and nephew Stephen E. Davis of California as well as 1 great niece, Katherine E. Ohlson and 2 great nephews, Matthew E. Ohlson and Andrew P. Meyer. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Anne King Davis and his only brother, George F. Davis.

    A memorial service and burial will be held in the spring at the Cambridge Cemetery in Cambridge, MA, where the Davises have a multi-generation burial plot.

    In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Vidant Health Foundation Lights of Love Program in Washington, NC 27789 or the Wilmer Macular Degeneration Center, John Hopkins Hospital, Maumenee 702, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287-9228.

    On-line condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Davis family.