Gene Davis

GENE DAVIS Vinton Gene L. Davis, 87, died Sunday, May 24, 2015, at Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehab in Vinton. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 28, at Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Judith Bunyi officiating. Military rites will be accorded at the church following the service. Private interment will be held at a later date. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until service time Thursday at the church. Phillips Funeral Home, Vinton, is in charge of arrangements. Gene was born on Nov. 18, 1927, near Clemons, Iowa, the first born son of Lloyd and Hazel (Kirk) Davis. He graduated from high school in 1945 and joined the U.S. Navy two years later. He married Helen Prochaska on Feb. 14, 1948. Helen preceded Gene in death in 1987. On June 25, 1988, he married Frieda Walther of Plainfield. Gene taught power technology at Hawkeye Institute of Technology for 18 years. He held many positions in the faculty association and authored a textbook. He had 14 years of civil service work, mostly with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. His general technology degree (1985) was earned through classes at ISU, UNI and many industrial courses at numerous schools. He served in many capacities in community service organizations. He is survived by his wife, Frieda; their five children; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his brother, Donald. Gene was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Doris Charlier. Online condolences may be left at www.phillips funeralhomes.com.