NORWICH – William Joseph Davis, 64, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at the University of North Carolina Hospital with his sons at his side.
Bill was born March 20, 1948 to William and Bertha (Casamento) Davis in Washington, DC. He grew up in Norwich, the middle of six children. He attended St. Paul’s (now Holy Family) School and graduated from Norwich High School with the Class of 1966. While attending Mohawk Valley Community College, Bill met his future wife, Elsa Keehn Davis. They settled in central NY and raised two sons, Jason and Ryan.
Bill’s love for the south was never far from his heart and he moved to North Carolina to be with his extended family in 1995. He worked for the community he loved for the past 13 years at the Pittsboro Waste Water Treatment Plant until the time of his death.
Bill’s lifelong passion for art was evident all around him, in any profession he chose. Bill worked in advertising, was publisher of a trade magazine in the 1980s and worked as a film assembler and proofer at Canterbury Press in Rome, NY for 12 years. From drawing portraits to designing and building models, he was always creating something. Co-workers at the Pittsboro Treatment Plant recalled Bill often sketching and drawing on breaks or at lunch.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Bertha, and by his little sister, Alice Virginia. Bill is survived by his two sons, Jason of North Prairie, WI, and Ryan of Madison, WI; brothers, Bernard and wife, Linda Davis, of Vestal, NY, and John Davis of Clifton Park, NY; and sisters, Mary and husband Don O’Hearn, of Tampa FL, Barbara and husband, Larry Dunning, of Weedsport, NY, and Gloria and husband, Chris Pricci, of Sterling, VA; nieces Barbara, Felicia, Heather, Larissa and Catherine, and nephews William, Steven and Phillip.
A memorial service for Bill will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel on the grounds of St. Paul’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, to continue Bill’s support of our fighting servicemen and women, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans.
The local arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the funeral home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.