Richard L. Davis

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Richard Lee Davis, 90, of Maris Grove, Glen Mills, PA.  Dick was the beloved husband of Carol Jones Davis for almost 69 years, and father to Mark Davis, Linda Mangold, and Elizabeth Eberhardt, all of West Chester, PA, and Nanette Davis (Stan Okula) of Alexandria, VA.  Dick is also survived by seven grandchildren: Andrew Mangold (Hillary Edwards), Lindsay Scherrer (Jarrett), Zachary Fithian (Claire Bea), Alexander Fithian, Emma Hathaway, Chris Eberhardt (Nia Crerar), and Jenna Eberhardt.  He is also survived by his sister-in-law Nancy Davis and many beloved nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his parents, Claude S. and Pauline Renner Davis, his older brother Donald Davis, his niece Karen Davis, his brothers-in-law Fred Jones and Douglas Jones, and sister-in-law Sola Jones.

Dick was born and raised in Hagerstown, MD, and lived a full and fascinating life.  He was definitely smarter than the average bear.  At age 12, he rewired the family home, using a manual he read.  In high school, Dick and his friend had an antique furniture reproduction business, supplying a dealer in Washington, D.C.  He was an Eagle Scout. 

Dick and Carol started dating in 10th grade and spent 74 years together.  One of his many projects was building a wooden boat that they used on the Potomac River.  A 1950 graduate of Hagerstown High School, Dick went to the University of Maryland, graduating in 1955 with a B.S. degree in aeronautical engineering, a career he chose in the eighth grade.  He also did graduate studies in Industrial and Executive Management at Penn State University and Ohio State University. He had dreamed of being an Air Force pilot but was thwarted by his eyesight.  Nonetheless, he served as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force with distinction from 1955 until 1958, stationed at Stewart Air Force Base in Newburgh, NY, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH.  He was assigned as a project engineer for the feasibility program for the Saturn V rocket engine. 

He then spent a storied career as an engineer and executive with Morton Thiokol in Elkton, Maryland, designing rocket motors for the American space program.  One of his early projects was as program manager on the Surveyor mooncraft retro rocket engine from 1961 to 1967, which tested the feasibility of landing on the moon.  He subsequently spent many years working on rocket motors for the Space Shuttle program. After the tragic explosion of the Challenger shuttle in 1986, Dick was brought out to the Thiokol plant in Brigham City, Utah, to be the chief troubleshooter and fixer.  He received NASA’s Distinguished Service Award in 1988, NASA’s highest civilian award for leadership in returning the Space Shuttle to flight status, following the Challenger accident.  In 1990, he received the “Silver Snoopy” award, NASA Astronauts’ highest award for support of Manned Space Flight.  He also received a Director’s Commendation from NASA-Marshall for sustained leadership in propulsion technology, and a U.S. Navy Fleet Missile Award for providing leadership on Poseidon and Trident missile submarine systems.  After retiring in 1992, Dick established a short-distance communications company, which he ran for a decade.     

Dick spent many years serving civic associations in Delaware, including the Brookside Community, the Crestview Recreation Association, the Cardiff Civic Association, and the Brandywine Jaycees.  He was a dedicated volunteer and Board member at the American Helicopter Museum in West Chester, Pennsylvania.  He was an incredible handyman who could fix anything, including things you never knew needed fixing.   No visit to his children was complete without a trip to the hardware store. 

The family thanks the nurses and staff at Rose Court, Maris Grove, and the hospice nurses with Willow Tree Hospice Care.

A private interment service will be held at Birmingham Lafayette Cemetery, Birmingham Road, West Chester, PA.

A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, August 28th from 1-3 at the American Helicopter Museum,1220 American Boulevard, West Chester, PA 19380.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Helicopter Museum, 1220 American Blvd, West Chester, PA 19380. 

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA. 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com