Gary P. Davis

Aug. 31, 1943 - Dec. 21, 2000

Gary P. Davis, 57, residing on Ireland Road, Mishawaka, Ind., passed away on Thursday, Dec. 21, in his home.

Mr. Davis was born on Aug. 31, 1943, in South Bend, Ind., as the son of the late Orville Leo and Virginia Lucille (Hensel) Davis, and had been a lifelong resident of this community. He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Randall Lynn Davis, John Wesley Davis and James Allen Davis.

He graduated in 1962 from John Adams High School. He then attended Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., where he was a member of Theta Chi.

Gary was a telecommunications expert respected throughout all of Indiana and the midwest. He began his career with Indiana Bell in the late 1960s, and worked in many different capacities learning about telecommunications and becoming a technical consultant. At the breakup of AT&T and Bell, Gary moved to AT&T, working out of the South Bend marketing office as a systems consultant, and later for Lucent Technologies as a design engineer. He won many prestigious awards during his career for outstanding assistance in customer sales. He was often called upon to design some of the most complex systems in the central region of the United States.

After taking early retirement, Gary was consistently requested as a contracted consultant to help Lucent in designing and installing some of the largest telecommunications systems in Indiana, and received accolades from pleased customers everywhere.

On Feb. 2, 1988, in Las Vegas, Nev., he married Marie K. Wilemon, who survives. He is also survived by three sons, Todd Davis of Indianapolis, Ind., Scott Davis of Bloomington, Ind., and Warren "Skip" Alwine of Mishawaka; a daughter, Kara Alwine of South Bend; a sister, Andrea K. and Jack E. Burke of South Bend; his mother and father-in-law, Louise and Robert Wilemon of Mishawaka; two nieces, Kimberly Burke of South Bend and Debbie Dinkel of Midland, Mich.; a nephew, Terry and DeeDee Burke of Granger, Ind.; two great-nieces, Carly Burke and Britley Burke; a great-nephew, Callen Burke; and by two brothers-in-law, John and Sheila Wilemon and Robert and Lynda Wilemon Jr., both of Granger.

Gary was actively involved with the Telephone Pioneers and worked on many of their charitable projects such as Kids Kingdom. He was a volunteer for Special Olympics, a member of the Studebaker Drivers Club, and was a member of Phantom Five Band where he enjoyed playing the drums. He had a great love for traveling.

His sports abilities were legendary among his peers. He sponsored an annual bowling tournament, and was talented in golf, basketball, pool and, more recently, mountain climbing. Services for Gary P. Davis will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, in the Palmer Funeral Home, 2528 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend. Rev. Bob Moore, pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mishawaka, will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday in the Palmer Funeral Home. He was loved by so many and will be greatly missed.

Article from 24 Dec 2000 The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, IN)

Source: Newspapers.com

08/11/2026 EJS