Wiley Franklin Davis Jr. was born November 25th, 1925, to Wiley Franklin Davis Sr. and Buren “Mae” Debord in Canton, Georgia. He was the third of five children. He grew up on a farm in a house his father built in Murray County, GA.
Wiley graduated from Murray County High School at the age of 16. When he was 18, he joined the Army where he served 27 months with tours in Germany, the Philippines, and Japan. He was decorated with the American Service, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and Good Conduct Medal AR 600-68, Army of Occupation Medal.
When he returned home, Wiley enrolled at Georgia Tech. During that time, he met and married Willene Richardson on March 20th, 1948. From this marriage they had four children, Scott, Susan, Victoria, and Stephen.
In 1950, Wiley graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Electrical Engineering and went to work for Lockheed in Atlanta. He later moved his family to Huntsville to work as a civilian in the Army Missile Command. During this time, Wiley’s family was one of the ten founding families of Weatherly Heights Baptist Church.
Following his first marriage, he married Faye S. Bennett December 28th, 1968. Wiley and Faye became active members of First Baptist Church on Governors Dr. where they loved singing in the choir and taught Sunday School for many years.
Wiley was quite an amazing engineer. He built his own TV in his home, and designed and constructed a fiberglass canoe. While living in Smyrna, Georgia, he designed a water-cooling tower that served as an early air conditioning system. He designed and built his own electric car in 1974. It ran on three car batteries which could be recharged overnight to drive to work on the arsenal. He helped design and build the living Christmas Tree at First Baptist Church.
He was also a gifted musician. He never learned to read music but played by ear. All he had to do was listen to a song and could turn around and play it on a piano, guitar, banjo, or a harmonica.
Wiley retired in 1980 after 30 years of service. After retirement, Wiley and Faye enjoyed life traveling across the country, learned to square dance, and visited many countries in Europe.
First and foremost, he was a Godly man and set an example for his family. He was gentle, kind, and gracious to his family and anyone who crossed his path. Wiley Franklin Davis Jr. passed away peacefully February 10th, 2024. He was an exceptional man and will be greatly missed.
He was predeceased by his parents, Wiley Franklin Davis Sr. and Buren Mae Debord; brother, Cecil Davis; sisters, Gladys Winkler and Hazel Thomason; and son, Stephen Davis. Surviving family members are his wife Faye S Davis; sister, Mary Ruth Stevenson; son, Scott Davis; daughters, Susan Warr (Bill) and Victoria Butler (Jim); and stepdaughter, Teresa Bennett Elrod (Rocky).
Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 13, at Brookdale Jones Farm 3rd Floor Chapel. The family will have a private graveside service following visitation.
The family would like to thank the caregivers of Brookdale at Home for the love and attention they gave Wiley.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to First Baptist Church, 600 Governors Dr., Huntsville, AL, 35801 https:www.fbchsv.org/
