Howard Walter Davis
April 26, 1944 — December 22, 2022
Howard Walter Davis, age 78, passed away on December 22, 2022 at the Knoxville Hospital after struggling for several weeks with a weakened heart and failing kidneys.
Howard was born on April 26, 1944 in Knoxville, the son of Walter Earl Davis and Lucille Grace (Wallace) Davis. He attended Marysville school through 8th grade and then Lovilia high school for his freshman and sophomore years. His junior year was at Attica high school before graduating in 1962 from Twin Cedars high school. After graduation, Howard worked on the family farm for two years. On August 15, 1964, he was united in marriage to Lois Ann Black in Attica. Two years later, daughter Lori Lynn was born. They lived in Marysville for the first five years of their marriage, later moving to Knoxville. Son Kevin Lee was born in 1971 and later Holly Marie in 1980. Howard worked for a neighboring farmer and drove school bus for Twin Cedars high school until he started at Rolscreen on June 21, 1965. Howard worked for 31 ½ years at Rolscreen/Pella Corp. He made cost center manager in 1971 and general foreman in 1979, retiring in 1996 at the age of 52. Howard made many friendships through his years working at Pella Corp.
Early in their marriage, Howard and Lois were active camping, boating, water-skiing, snowmobiling and riding motorcycles while they raised their family. Howard once made a duck boat from scratch in his garage with the help of Leo Kennedy. After retirement Howard stayed busy by doing interior painting, and other odd-jobs for widowed ladies in Knoxville while Lois continued to work part-time. They attended daughter Holly’s sporting events and later grandson Keaton’s. Howard and Lois enjoyed cruises and went on 14, mostly with Lois’ sister and brother-in-law, to places like Hawaii, Alaska, Panama Canal and many Caribbean countries. They owned several motorhomes over the years and traveled the country. They also enjoyed going on bus trips later in life. Howard was a life-long motorcycle and car enthusiast. He could tell you the date something occurred based on the car he was driving at that time. He purchased his first motorcycle, a Matchless, at age 16. He continued to buy and sell cars and motorcycles throughout his life. He couldn’t pass a car dealership without stopping to “kick the tires”. He was fond of Honda cars and motorcycles as well as Fords. Howard found a 1964 Ford Comet and had it restored. That car was special to him because it was the same make and model they had when they got married. Howard and Lois belonged to the Southern Iowa Mustang club where they participated in car shows with their vintage Mustangs as well as the yearly fall cruise to surrounding states. Howard enjoyed reading and watching westerns. He loved watching Nascar on tv, and sprint car racing at Knoxville Raceway; attending the Nationals every year. Howard and Lois hosted sprint car fans in their home who became friends and have returned year after year. He was a social man and could talk to anyone easily. He always had an interesting story or joke. Howard enjoyed coffee club at McDonald’s. Many hours were spent in fellowship with his friends over coffee at their special table. The family can recount many “dad-isms” that made him one-of-a kind. Most of all, Howard was proud of his family and loved having them around him. Family birthdays were always celebrated with cake and homemade ice cream and that tradition will continue.
Howard is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lois; daughter Lori (Terry) Thomas of Pella, son Kevin Davis of Knoxville, daughter Holly (Jonathan) Crowson of Urbandale, sister Emma Lou Burk of Hamilton and grandchildren; Keaton Thomas, Madison Crowson, Camden Crowson and Oaklynn Crowson. As well as many nieces, nephews and their families.
Howard is preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Ramona and Russell James, brother David Davis, brother-in-law Albert Burk and nephews, Kelly Davis and Raymond Burk.
Memorials may be made to The Knoxville Racing Charitable Organization (KRCO).
Howard was born on April 26, 1944 in Knoxville, the son of Walter Earl Davis and Lucille Grace (Wallace) Davis. He attended Marysville school through 8th grade and then Lovilia high school for his freshman and sophomore years. His junior year was at Attica high school before graduating in 1962 from Twin Cedars high school. After graduation, Howard worked on the family farm for two years. On August 15, 1964, he was united in marriage to Lois Ann Black in Attica. Two years later, daughter Lori Lynn was born. They lived in Marysville for the first five years of their marriage, later moving to Knoxville. Son Kevin Lee was born in 1971 and later Holly Marie in 1980. Howard worked for a neighboring farmer and drove school bus for Twin Cedars high school until he started at Rolscreen on June 21, 1965. Howard worked for 31 ½ years at Rolscreen/Pella Corp. He made cost center manager in 1971 and general foreman in 1979, retiring in 1996 at the age of 52. Howard made many friendships through his years working at Pella Corp.
Early in their marriage, Howard and Lois were active camping, boating, water-skiing, snowmobiling and riding motorcycles while they raised their family. Howard once made a duck boat from scratch in his garage with the help of Leo Kennedy. After retirement Howard stayed busy by doing interior painting, and other odd-jobs for widowed ladies in Knoxville while Lois continued to work part-time. They attended daughter Holly’s sporting events and later grandson Keaton’s. Howard and Lois enjoyed cruises and went on 14, mostly with Lois’ sister and brother-in-law, to places like Hawaii, Alaska, Panama Canal and many Caribbean countries. They owned several motorhomes over the years and traveled the country. They also enjoyed going on bus trips later in life. Howard was a life-long motorcycle and car enthusiast. He could tell you the date something occurred based on the car he was driving at that time. He purchased his first motorcycle, a Matchless, at age 16. He continued to buy and sell cars and motorcycles throughout his life. He couldn’t pass a car dealership without stopping to “kick the tires”. He was fond of Honda cars and motorcycles as well as Fords. Howard found a 1964 Ford Comet and had it restored. That car was special to him because it was the same make and model they had when they got married. Howard and Lois belonged to the Southern Iowa Mustang club where they participated in car shows with their vintage Mustangs as well as the yearly fall cruise to surrounding states. Howard enjoyed reading and watching westerns. He loved watching Nascar on tv, and sprint car racing at Knoxville Raceway; attending the Nationals every year. Howard and Lois hosted sprint car fans in their home who became friends and have returned year after year. He was a social man and could talk to anyone easily. He always had an interesting story or joke. Howard enjoyed coffee club at McDonald’s. Many hours were spent in fellowship with his friends over coffee at their special table. The family can recount many “dad-isms” that made him one-of-a kind. Most of all, Howard was proud of his family and loved having them around him. Family birthdays were always celebrated with cake and homemade ice cream and that tradition will continue.
Howard is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lois; daughter Lori (Terry) Thomas of Pella, son Kevin Davis of Knoxville, daughter Holly (Jonathan) Crowson of Urbandale, sister Emma Lou Burk of Hamilton and grandchildren; Keaton Thomas, Madison Crowson, Camden Crowson and Oaklynn Crowson. As well as many nieces, nephews and their families.
Howard is preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Ramona and Russell James, brother David Davis, brother-in-law Albert Burk and nephews, Kelly Davis and Raymond Burk.
Memorials may be made to The Knoxville Racing Charitable Organization (KRCO).
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