John Davies passed away on December 27, 2019, while in hospice at the Mayo Clinic. He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Margie Davies, who passed away in 2014 after over 66 years of marriage. He is also predeceased by his two children, Nancy Davies Davis, who passed away in 2002, and Rick Davies, who passed away in 2010.
John is survived by his grandson, Joshua Davies, who lives in Hohenfels, Germany; his niece, Claire Dial and her husband, Roger Dial, of Modesto, California; Dr. Melissa and Mark Pearrow of Dedham, Massachusetts; and four great-grandchildren.
John was born April 5th, 1927, to his widowed mother; his father had passed away in December 1926. John attended elementary school and Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He enrolled at Butler University in 1944 and was initiated into Sigma Nu fraternity. At the end of his freshman year, he was called to serve in the United States Army. Shortly thereafter in 1945, the war came to an end, and John continued to serve in the Army of Occupation in Germany before being discharged after 18 months of service.
John re-entered Butler University and resumed his relationship with Margie Sullivan, and they were married on December 21, 1947. With her support, a part-time job, and assistance from the GI Bill, he graduated with honors from Butler in 1949.
In 1948, John was hired by GMAC and began a 42-year long career with them. After 15 relocations and many adventures with the company, John retired in 1990 as Vice President of International Operations. He and Margie moved to Marsh Landing in Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida in 1992, and then to Vicar’s Landing in 2011.
John was a member of Palms Presbyterian Church, the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, Brass, The Church Men, the Butler University Alumni Association, and the OVID Butler Society. John was an avid supporter of Butler University throughout his life, and he served on the Business Advisory Council, the Alumni Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee of the OVID Butler Society. He was presented with the Katherine Merrill Grayden Service Award and the OIVID Butler Society Mortar award for “Vision, Leadership, and Generosity to the University.” He also established the John Davies Family Scholarship Fund in 1996.
John was especially proud of the academic reputation of Butler University, as well as the achievements of the school’s athletic teams. He was an avid supporter of Butler Basketball, and for many years, he and Margie ventured out of the warm climate of Florida to visit wintry Indianapolis two or three times a year to watch home games of the Butler Bulldogs.
John and Margie had a passionate shared interest in theater. They loved Broadway musicals, and would often see plays they liked many times over – for example, they saw “Les Misérables” in four countries and three continents, well into the double-digit number of times.
John treasured personal relationships and maintained relationships with many Butler schoolmates, colleagues from GMAC, and many friends and neighbors he and Margie had met in their travels and relocations around the country. He credits his longevity to a loving wife, warm friendships, and frequent workouts at the gym, especially during the 20+ years of his retirement.
A memorial service will be held at 1PM on Tuesday, December 31st, at the Palms Presbyterian Church, 3410 South Third Street, Jacksonville Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the John Davies Family Scholarship Fund, c/o Butler University, 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208, Att. Development Staff.
