William Davis

William Edwards Davis passed away in Indianapolis August 13, 2013 after a very short illness. He became ill at his home in Pentwater, Michigan, where he and his late wife Judy had for many years enjoyed watching sunsets on Lake Michigan and entertaining friends and family. He spent thirty-five years as a supervising executive at Indiana Bell Telephone, later Ameritech in Indianapolis, retiring in 1991, where he was praised for his expertise in management. Bill supervised the transition of small town exchanges in Indiana to an overall national system in the early 1960s. He took pride, but looked with nostalgia at the disappearance of the personalized phone system. "No more, hello Myrt, get me 241, that's the price of progress," Bill said. Bill Davis was born in Pratt, Kansas, and moved to Indianapolis in 1949. He was graduated from Broad Ripple High School in 1952 after being editor of the News Bureau in its nationally prize-winning journalism program. He studied journalism at Butler University, where he was a member of Phil Delta Theta fraternity. Later Bill was named a member of the Golden Legion for service to his fraternity. In 1956 he married Judith Kay Rinehart and was a loyal and loving husband for 56 years prior to her passing in September of 2012. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving in the 313th Air Division, stationed in Okinawa. While in the Far East, he and Judy travelled to Japan and enjoyed learning about the culture there, stimulating their desire for travel, which the couple did extensively in their later years. Bill was an avid supporter of his home city Indianapolis, taking his family for over twenty years to the 500 Parade and attending Colts games since the team's arrival in Indianapolis. He was a member of the Ovid Butler Society at his alma mater and supporter of the Butler athletic program. He was known among his many Indianapolis and Michigan friends as an immediately interested and sincerely kind and helpful person. He was an avid sailor, cruising waters in the Bahamas, the North Channel in Lake Huron and crewing in the Ensign races at the Pentwater Yacht Club. He is survived by his son Bradley Rinehart Davis (Debra); grandchildren Becky Anderson (Nick) and Amy Condle (Chris). A daughter Jennifer Lynn Kinder (Jeff) also survives and grandchildren Jason Fisher (Davina) and Mary Fisher (Ian). Great grandchildren are Drew Condle and Abigail Anderson. Bill had a special love for animals. If preferred, contributions to Wild Care (198 N. Hartstraight, Bloomington, IN 474045) can be made in lieu of flowers. Info@Wild Care Inc.org. Visitation will be on Friday, August 16 from 4-7 p.m. at Flanner and Buchanan - Broad Ripple 1305 E. Broad Ripple Ave. Indianapolis. A celebration of Bill Davis's life will be held at the Great Hall Chapel, Washington Park North Cemetery 2706 Kessler Boulevard West Drive, Saturday August 17, at 1 p.m., services commence at 2:00 p.m. prior to entombment. You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story. Sincerely, -Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan