Davis, Burton M.

Burton M. Davis, 90, died peacefully Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at Windsor Manor in Vinton. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at the Vinton Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Fred Darbonne officiating. Immediately following the service, military rites will be performed by Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post 57 of Vinton and Iowa Military Funeral Honors. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home and one hour before services Friday at the church. Private family inurnment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton.

Burt was born Oct. 20, 1922, in rural Mount Auburn, Iowa, to Ivan J. and Elda Wagoner Davis Sr. He attended school in Vinton, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1940. He attended the University of Iowa before enlisting in the military.

Burt proudly served his country as a lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He flew a P-61 (known as “The Black Widow”) as a fighter pilot and was also a flight instructor. He was a 50 plus year member of Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post 57 in Vinton and participated in the Honor Flight on April 26, 2011.

On Dec. 24, 1943, Burt was united in marriage with Mary St. Clair at Luke AFB in Phoenix, Ariz. She preceded him in death on Sept. 9, 1981. On Dec. 27, 1983, Burt was united in marriage with Geraldine “Geri” Pierce Anderson at the Vinton Presbyterian Church. During their marriage, Burt and Geri enjoyed wintering in Arizona. They also enjoyed traveling. Burt covered a lot of ground, spending time in Europe and Mexico.

Burt was a partner in Davis Implement Co. in Vinton. Burt was very active in the Vinton Community. He was a 70 plus year member of Vinton Presbyterian Church, he was a 60 plus year member of the Vinton Lions Club and was a past president, he was a charter member of the Izaak Walton League, he was a member of the Airport Commission, he served on the Virginia Gay Hospital Board and was a former president and he was a 50 plus year member of the Vinton Country Club and a former president.

Burt was an avid golfer and enjoyed fishing, hiking and bird watching.

Burt is survived by his wife, Geri Davis of Vinton; three stepchildren, Michael (Amy) Anderson of Omaha, Neb., Lori (Frank) Grosso of Plano, Texas and Linda (Kevin) Lauver of Rockwell City; two grandchildren, Angie (Brad) Mullenix of Vinton and Joe Radcliffe of Cedar Rapids; five stepgrandchildren, Megan (Ben) Romey of Carter Lake, Mallory Anderson of Nashville, Tenn., Andrew Lauver of Washington, D.C.;,Colin Anderson of Omaha, Neb. and Jacob Lauver of Ames; five great-grandchildren, Bray Mullenix of Cedar Falls, Marshall Mullenix of Vinton, Georgia Higgins of Cedar Rapids and Maxwell and Josie Wehage, both of Vinton; one brother, Dick (Phyllis) Davis of Vinton; two sisters, Lois (Tom) Hinkin of Evanston, Ill. and Dona (Harold) Merchant of Vinton; one brother-in-law, Roger (Dorothy) Albert of Vinton; and one sister-in-law, Mozelle Davis of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary; one daughter, Linda Radcliffe; an infant son; two brothers, Ivan Davis Jr. and John Davis; and one sister, Iris Albert.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight, P.O. Box 10704, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Burt and his family.

Condolences may be left at .

Published in The Gazette Jan. 23, 2013.