In Memory Of
Donald J. Davis
1933
2020
Donald J. Davis
January 5, 1933 — September 7, 2020
Donald J. Davis, 87, of Powell, OH passed away on September 7, 2020 due to complications of Parkinson's Disease.
Don was born on January 5, 1933. to Fred and Pearl (Kibler) Davis in St. Louis Missouri.
Don married the love of his life Dorothy (Bennett) Davis in January 1952. Their devotion to one another was evident to all who knew them during their 57 years of marriage. Together they raised three lovely daughters who went on to graduate from Michigan State University. Don an avid sports fan, quickly became one of Michigan State Athletics' biggest fans.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Eugene and Bob, his wife Dorothy (Bennett) Davis and daughter Diane Davis Waller, Esq.
In 1955 Don went to work at General Motors where he was an active member of the United Autoworkers Union (UAW). In 1966, while working at the St. Louis General Motors (GM) Fisher Body Plant, Don became the leader of a walkout strike, where his leadership was observed by then UAW President Walter Reuther. In 1967, at the invitation of Mr. Reuther, Don moved his family to Michigan where he was appointed the youngest person ever to serve as a UAW International Representative. Don also worked as an Arbitrator, and Technical Advisor for UAW GM International Negotiations. In all his 25 years of service, Don never lost an arbitration case.
Beginning in the late 1970's Don was the technical advisor to the UAW General Motors team in national negotiations when the "Spirit of Jointness" changed the way Unions and Companies approached negotiations as well as training, quality of work life, family tuition etc., and the UAW-GM Human Resource Centers were created. In addition to serving as the Executive Assistant to the UAW Vice-President in charge of GM affairs Don also served as the first International Co-Director of the UAW Human Resources along with a counterpart from General Motors. Don retired from UAW and GM in 1993 and moved to Pawley's Island, South Carolina where he and Dorothy loved making new friends, entertaining, golfing and collecting antiques, traveling and frequent trips to visit their daughters.
A devoted husband, father and grandpa, Don will be missed deeply by his surviving daughters K. Denni Davis (George Haddad), Kimberly Renninger (Ralph); son-in law John Waller (Diane), sister-in-law, Rita Davis (Eugene), ; five grand-children Jake Fortuna, Charles (Emily) Waller, Charlotte Renninger, Chelsea (Mike) Norris, Eddie Waller and four great-granddaughters, Haley and Evelyn Norris and Grace and Aven Waller, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Parkinson's Foundation in memory of Don.
Please join us Sunday September 13th at 1 pm EST for a virtual memorial to share your favorite memories of Don. Use the below information via Zoom.
Topic: Don Davis Memorial
Time: Sep 13, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 838 2754 5936
Passcode: 803381
Don was born on January 5, 1933. to Fred and Pearl (Kibler) Davis in St. Louis Missouri.
Don married the love of his life Dorothy (Bennett) Davis in January 1952. Their devotion to one another was evident to all who knew them during their 57 years of marriage. Together they raised three lovely daughters who went on to graduate from Michigan State University. Don an avid sports fan, quickly became one of Michigan State Athletics' biggest fans.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Eugene and Bob, his wife Dorothy (Bennett) Davis and daughter Diane Davis Waller, Esq.
In 1955 Don went to work at General Motors where he was an active member of the United Autoworkers Union (UAW). In 1966, while working at the St. Louis General Motors (GM) Fisher Body Plant, Don became the leader of a walkout strike, where his leadership was observed by then UAW President Walter Reuther. In 1967, at the invitation of Mr. Reuther, Don moved his family to Michigan where he was appointed the youngest person ever to serve as a UAW International Representative. Don also worked as an Arbitrator, and Technical Advisor for UAW GM International Negotiations. In all his 25 years of service, Don never lost an arbitration case.
Beginning in the late 1970's Don was the technical advisor to the UAW General Motors team in national negotiations when the "Spirit of Jointness" changed the way Unions and Companies approached negotiations as well as training, quality of work life, family tuition etc., and the UAW-GM Human Resource Centers were created. In addition to serving as the Executive Assistant to the UAW Vice-President in charge of GM affairs Don also served as the first International Co-Director of the UAW Human Resources along with a counterpart from General Motors. Don retired from UAW and GM in 1993 and moved to Pawley's Island, South Carolina where he and Dorothy loved making new friends, entertaining, golfing and collecting antiques, traveling and frequent trips to visit their daughters.
A devoted husband, father and grandpa, Don will be missed deeply by his surviving daughters K. Denni Davis (George Haddad), Kimberly Renninger (Ralph); son-in law John Waller (Diane), sister-in-law, Rita Davis (Eugene), ; five grand-children Jake Fortuna, Charles (Emily) Waller, Charlotte Renninger, Chelsea (Mike) Norris, Eddie Waller and four great-granddaughters, Haley and Evelyn Norris and Grace and Aven Waller, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Parkinson's Foundation in memory of Don.
Please join us Sunday September 13th at 1 pm EST for a virtual memorial to share your favorite memories of Don. Use the below information via Zoom.
Topic: Don Davis Memorial
Time: Sep 13, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 838 2754 5936
Passcode: 803381
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald J. Davis, please visit our flower store.
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