Delphin D. Davis

Feb. 26,1925 - Feb. 20, 2014

Delphin "Del" Davis, 88, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. He was born to Harry and Opal Davis in Commerce, Okla. At the age of 16, Del boarded a bus to San Francisco, meeting up with his brother, Ronald. He attended welding school and upon graduation, got a job in the shipyards.

In 1943, Del was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Guam, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, finishing out his Tour on Duty in China. After World War II, Del worded for various airlines, first as a mechanic and eventually as an inspector.

Del was an active member of Smyrna Masonic Lodge #532 in Ceres, serving as Master for six years, Shrine Club, and York Right and was a 33 Degree Mason in Scottish Rite. He was Commander or Veterans or Foreign Wars #9676 in Waterford.

Del loved his church, woodworking, driving his "Tin Lizzy" as a Shriner in regional parades, but especially loved portraying Santa Claus at Christmas Tree Lane in Ceres for several years with his wife Shirley, as Mrs. Claus.

He is survived by his sons, Darwin Davis and Troy Davis; his stepchildren, Nancy Johnson (Scott), Clare Atkins (James), and Grant Erickson; and 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley Davis, daughter Janet Davis, stepson Lynn Erickson and grandson Clint Johnson.

Services will be held at Smyrna Lodge #532, 2904 3rd Street, Ceres, CA 95307 on March 8, 2014 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Smyrna Lodge or VFW #9676, P.O. Box 99, Waterford, CA 95386.

-Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2013