Robert “Bob” W. Davis
Robert “Bob” William Davis, 89 of Central City, quietly passed away on May 2nd, 2022 holding the hand of his long time friend, Ida Mae. Graveside Services will be Friday, June 10, 2022 at 3 p.m. at the Central City Cemetery.
Robert was born to parents David Morgan Davis and Cicely Edith (Lock) in Central City, Nebraska on October 10th of 1932. He was raised on the family farm just south of the Platte River, and attended country school in Hamilton County. After the passing of his father, his mother was remarried to Oscar Person, and at age 13, his family moved to Central City where he graduated from Central City High School in 1950. Robert continued to live in his family’s home place for the next 76 years.
Robert was inducted into the U.S. Army on January 16, 1953. He served in Korea at the end of the Korean War. He attained the rank of SGT while serving in the 625 Artillery Unit of the 3rd Division. After serving nearly 2 years in Korea, Robert received an honorable discharge on December 4, 1954. He received the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal for his service.
Upon his return home, Bob worked as an electrician for 16 years, worked at the Night and Day Cafe for 9 years, and was a maintenance man at the Central City Community Care for 11 years. He adored the friendships he made with all of the ladies who worked there. He was a tinkerer who loved to take things apart to see how they worked, and to rebuild them better than they started. In his younger days, he loved to work on and race cars with his buddies. He also built his own airboat out of plywood.
Central City American Legion Post #6 became his second home. He was a life member with 68 years in the Post. Throughout his membership, he served as Post Vice Commander alongside his older brother Wesley Davis who was a WWII veteran. Robert was a signal caller for the Post Color Guard of Central City American Legion Post #6. He commanded the Color Guard for many years. Robert was instrumental in maintaining the Service Medallions on the graves in Central City and surrounding cemeteries. Memorial Day was an extremely important part of Robert’s life. He made it his mission to ensure every soldier’s grave was honored with an American flag and a white cross. In his more than 65 years of honoring local veterans, Robert personally constructed, sanded and painted over 650 wooden crosses.
In his spare time, Robert was an avid hunter who enjoyed taking hunting trips with his friends to the sandhills out west and sitting in the duck blinds along the Platte River. Robert was one of the original founders of the Central City Sportsman Club and remained an active member till his last days. He served as treasurer and mower for most of those years. When he could no longer see well enough to shoot trap, he still enjoyed having morning conversation with the boys each Tuesday morning at the skeet range.
Robert was a member of American Legion Post #6 for 68 years, Fraternal Order of the Eagles #3795 for 31 years, Lifetime member of Central City Sportsman Club and avid member of the National Rifle Association and Ducks Unlimited. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Central City, where he loved making pancakes for the annual pancake feed.
Robert was the youngest of four children. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and stepfather; and his brothers Thomas Martin Davis, George Wesley Davis and his sister Shirley Davis Cunningham. Robert was never married but along with many close friends, Robert “Bob” is survived by his sister’s children: niece Becky Patterson, and nephews Robert Cunningham and William Cunningham all of Ellwood City, PA.
Solt-Wagner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
