Joseph E. Davis

Joseph “Joe” Ernest Davis was called to his final duty station on January 12, 2024, at age sixty, far earlier than any of us expected. Joe served in the Navy until last Tuesday, having a full 25-year career on Active Duty, which was immediately followed as a civilian in General Services in Mechanicsburg, PA. Counting his early life as a military dependent of his father Michael P. Davis (also a Navy and Air Force veteran, recently deceased), and mother Janice (Allwine) Davis, there were only a few years in his life not spent traveling the world and protecting our country. Joe was the fourth of Mike and Janice’s five children, all surviving him: Gerald (Theresa) of Austin, TX; Peter (Carol) of Shelby OH; Contance Shafer (Charles) of Shelby OH; and Elizabeth Cohen of Union KY. His mother Janice Davis resides at Primrose Retirement Community, Mansfield OH. Most cherished of all is his wife of 35 years, Karen (Platt) Davis, of New Cumberland PA. His daughters Samantha Davis Hotz (Jason) and Sabrina Fox (James) reside in Shelby and Port Clinton OH, respectively, where you can also find a crew of five grandchildren and one great-grandchild! Uncle Joe is also warmly remembered by dozens of nieces and nephews. Joe’s story began in Bad Axe, Michigan while his father was stationed at nearby Port Austin Air Force Station. Travels to Japan, North Carolina, and Germany ended with a final move to his “hometown,” Shelby OH, where he graduated in 1981. Along the way, he was regularly stitched up in various emergency rooms from flying unbelted inside station wagons and exploring unsafe construction sites. He was a test pilot for his older brothers for all go carts, sleds, or bikes, regardless of condition, and willingly sampled wines hidden by our parents. He learned to settle disagreements with boxing gloves helpfully provided by his father. In a 2006 article by the Shelby Globe, he related joining the Navy to find himself, and that he did; Joe rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer (1993), earning 46 medals and citations. He took part in actions including Kuwait, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and had worldwide responsibilities for aircraft ordnance management to ensure the success of Naval and Marine operations in European, African, and Middle Eastern theatres. He served at sea on the USS America, USS Forrestal, USS Nassau, and VFA-106 out of Cecile Field FL. He was highly respected for his expertise and traveled the world well into his civilian phase, ensuring quality and mission preparedness. Aside from daughter #1 being born in NAS Oceana, stealing and marrying wife Karen from a buddy while stationed in Fort Myers, VA was the highlight of his life. Of course, daughter Sabrina born at NAS Mayport continued a trend that preceded the great adventure of his life with Karen in Naples, Italy where his transition from Active Duty to civilian DoD employee began. Joe delighted in many magical times with Karen on the nearby island of Ischia. Relocating to New Cumberland began Joe’s last chapter with great colleagues at Mechanicsburg Naval Ammunition Logistics Center. His love of cooking and woodworking and home repair blossomed in this suburb while most of us were planning to eventually visit him in retirement in warmer Florida. We expect to find Karen there someday, but for Joe, we wish him fair winds and following seas. We miss you already. Friends are asked to gather for calling hours between 6-8pm at Musselman Funeral Home in Lemoyne, where the funeral will begin at 8pm with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society at https://www.humanesociety.org/how-you-can-help or to The Wounded Warrior Project at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate.

Joseph E. Davis

April 2, 1963 - January 12, 2024