William Davis

William Bill Davis 87, of Albion, Iowa, passed away on February 19, 2016 at Iowa River Hospice Home surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Military Honors will be provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #839 and By American Legion Posts in the Marshalltown Area. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at the Funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date. For condolences or questions please visit: www.mitchellfh.com . Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bill and his family. Phone 641-844-1234. William E. Davis was born on August 30, 1928, in Marietta, Iowa; he was the son of Perry and Geneva (Stone) Davis. He attended the Albion Public School system before he served his country honorably in the United States Army from 1950 until 1952. On October 6, 1952, Bill was united in marriage to Ruth Huff in Princeton, Missouri. Bill had worked at Marshalltown Trowel for 20 plus years and then Conrad Coop retiring in 1991. Bill loved and raised animals his entire life. He was widely known for his fancy pigeons, specifically the Fantail breed. Throughout the years he won many local, state and national awards with his birds. He particularly loved showing at the Iowa State Fair where in later years he judged and was superintendent of the open class Pigeon division for two years. Later he raised parakeets, finches and cockatiels for distribution to local Earl May Stores. Bill and his granddaughter loved going to animal swaps. Bill and his wife were avid bowlers which earned the honors in local and state tournaments through many years of competition. But his true passion and love was the huge garden he and Ruth planted each year. He loved to talk about how everything was growing during the season and the large selection of vegetables he raised was shared throughout the family. His grandchildren have continued on with his legacy. Bill was also an avid fisherman. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 63 years, Ruth; daughter, Karen (Douglas) Betts of Albion; son, Larry (Carole) Davis of Conrad; grandchildren, Brody (Tandi) Davis of Gladbrook, Mitch (Amy) Davis North Liberty, Kipp (Brooke) Davis of Gladbrook, Aaron (Katelyn) Betts of Albion, Andrea Betts-Murphy of Alvin Texas; great grandchildren, Aiden Murphy, Brayton and Brayla Davis, Brynn and Kaylin Davis, Vada Davis, and Sister, Betty (Joe) Paglia of Marshalltown. Bill is preceded in death by his parents Perry and Geneva, brothers Leonard, Russell, and Jim Davis and a son in infancy.