Sylvan Davis, 92
Sylvan Davis, 92, of Galena Pike, West Portsmouth, died Jan. 2, 2013, at Bridgeport Healthcare in Portsmouth.
He was born April 22, 1920, in Nauvoo (West Portsmouth), Ohio to the late John F. and Essie L. Jenkins Davis.
A 1939 graduate of Portsmouth High School, he received his MA degree from Ohio University, Athens in 1947.
His first teaching job was at the former Nauvoo Grade School in 1941; he then taught at Washington High School in the 1950’s and was the first principal of the George F. Jenkins Elementary School when it was dedicated in 1958 and where he served until his retirement in 1978.
Always active in civic affairs, he formed the Nauvoo Water League in 1957 which extended city water to the back part of West Portsmouth; 48 years as secretary of the Washington Twp. Fireman Dependents Board of the Fire Department.
During the late 1940’s and early 1950’s he was also co-owner of McDermott-Portsmouth Bus Lines where he made many friends and acquaintances.
A lifetime member of the Oldtown United Methodist Church in West Portsmouth, he served in many capacities over the years and was a teacher for The Mixed M’s class for over 30 years.
He owned S.S. Davis Real Estate in West Portsmouth and had been a member of the Greater Portsmouth Area Board of Realtors since 1952.
A leader in the Scioto County Republican Party for over 60 years, he had been a member of the Scioto Republican Central Committee, Washington D, since 1946; served as Secretary of the Executive Committee for many years; and since 1996 he had served as Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee.
He was a member of the local Elk’s Lodge No. 154; a 50 year member of the James Dickey Post No. 23 of the American Legion. He was also a World War II Army veteran plus a longtime Kentucky Colonel.
Sylvan is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Kathryn Ann Burris Davis, formerly of Friendship, whom he married on December 28, 1963; his beloved daughters, Anna E. and Gloria Amber Davis, both of West Portsmouth; a brother, John Jenkins of Houston, Texas, and many cousins and friends, including: Mary and Elmo Smalley and Janet (Davis) Risner.
In addition to his parents, Sylvan is preceded in death by an infant brother, and cousins: James Folsom, William Liston, George Parry, Raymond E. Davis, Nile Davis, Virginia Glaze, Arthur Armbrust, and Pauline Rush.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, at Oldtown United Methodist Church in West Portsmouth with Rev. Chris Wiseman and Rev. Tami Coleman officiating. Interment will follow at Scioto Burial Park. Graveside military rites will be provided by the American Legion Post No. 363 of Lucasville and Post No. 622 of Minford. Friends and relatives may call at Melcher Funeral Home in Portsmouth on Friday from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. and again one hour before the service on Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Oldtown United Methodist Church or Animal Welfare League of Scioto County.
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