William ""Bill"" H. Davis

William (Bill) H. Davis, 89, Mulberry, died at 10:30 a.m. May 23, 2011 at IU Health Arnett Hospital.

Mr. Davis was born Dec. 12, 1921 in Clarks Hill to Ora L. and Lola B. (Payne) Davis. He married Ella K. Whitteberry on Sept. 12, 1946 and she survives.

The lifelong Clinton County resident was the owner of Davis Jewelers in Mulberry for 50-plus years. He purchased the jewelry store in February 1961.

He was a member of Mulberry United Methodist Church, Mulberry Community Club, a 50-plus year member of the Mulberry Masonic Lodge, American Legion and Wildcat Conservation Club.

He graduated from Rossville High School in 1939, attended watch-making and jewelry school for two years, graduating in 1948 in Kansas City; he was a U.S. Navy Veteran serving in WWII from 1942-44; participated in work at Purdue that was essential to the production of the atomic bomb in August of 1945; in 1963 was the Indiana State Champion Trap Shooter; was an avid bird hunter and owned many bird dogs throughout his life.

Surviving with his wife of Mulberry are one daughter, Nancy M. (husband Richard) Cottrell of Royal Center; two grandsons, Jason William Cottrell of Lafayette and Nathan Lee Cottrell of Chicago; two sisters-in-law, Miriam Davis of Lafayette and Wilma Weaver of Mulberry; one brother-in-law, Ray (wife Margaret) Whitteberry of Indianapolis; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Maxine Bailey and Mary Ellen Locke; and one brother Jackie Dean Davis.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 2, 2011 at Mulberry Health and Retirement Community in the large conference room. Pastor David Hummel will officiate the services. Burial will occur in Fair Haven Cemetery with military burial rites. Calling will occur from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at Mulberry Health and Retirement Community in the large conference room.

Memorials may be made to Mulberry United Methodist Church.