Lowell Wesley Davis, Sr., 94, of Keokuk, died Friday, September 26, 2014 at Fort Madison Community Hospital, Fort Madison, Iowa after having spent an enjoyable day with many family and friends. Lowell was born on Labor Day, September 2, 1920 in Hamilton, Illinois, the third child of William E. and Elva Mae (Hathaway) Davis. On December 28, 1941, he was united in marriage to Berniece Cleo Rettig, whom he dearly loved and respected, in Sikeston, Missouri. Lowell and Cleo were married almost 67 years before she passed away on her 88th birthday on Sunday, October 19, 2008. This year marks the six year anniversary of her passing and interestingly enough her birthday yet again falls on a Sunday. She was a very dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother. She was deeply loved and appreciated by all her family and friends. Lowell W. Davis, Sr. entered the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) on January 20, 1943 at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. While taking Basic Training at Miami Beach, Florida, he was photographed for the Manual of Instruction for Dual Combatives, Exercises, and Tugs-of-War which carries the title of "Get Tough" prepared at the Officers Candidate School Army Air Corps Technical Training Command in Miami Beach, Florida printed April 29, 1944. The manual consist of 63 pages and he is usually pictured on the left side of the photos. He was stationed for approximately a year in Florida, a year in Texas, and from March 15, 1945 to December 11, 1945 in England. He served in the 8th Air Corps out of Eccles Road in the European Theater during World War II. He flew over Germany and France in a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber. On some of his three day passes, he rode the Flying Scotsman Steam Locomotive from London, England to Edinburgh, Scotland and back, with speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. PFC Lowell W. Davis was Honorably Discharged at Camp Grant, Illinois on December 22, 1945. He received an Overseas Service Bar, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He retired from the Burlington Northern Railroad after 25 years of service as a mechanic and machine operator on September 2, 1985. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, and helping his children, grandchildren, and friends with various projects. He kept so busy after retiring, that he often wondered how he ever found time to work. He was known for his uncanny ability to recall and tell interesting stories of events that actually happened during his lifetime. He had an amazing sense of humor and enjoyed life, family and friends. He was very proud of all his children, etc. He will be dearly missed by all those that knew and loved him. He is survived by four sons, Wesley Davis and his wife, Merrilyn, of Keokuk, Lowell Davis Jr. and his wife, Mary, of Keokuk, Steven Davis and his wife, Kitty, of Kahoka, Missouri and Craig Davis of Keokuk, three daughters, Bernice Shuster and her husband, David, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, Janet Servinski and her husband, William, of Wayland, Missouri and Susan Maddox and her husband, John, of Keokuk, a daughter-in-law, Rose Davis of rural Keokuk, 30 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Besides his wife, Lowell was also preceded in death by his mother and father, his stepmother, Marie (Seymore) (Davis) Hagmeier, one brother, Russell Davis, one sister, Ruberta "Peggy" Moore, one half-sister, Pearl Davis, one son, David L. Davis, one granddaughter, Leanna Davis, one grandson, Mathew A. Schmitt, one great-granddaughter, Patricia Yarborough, one great-great-grandson, Landon Yarborough, and one great-great-granddaughter Sara Gensler. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 2, 2014 at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk with Pastor Dan Deatrick officiating. Burial with military rites was in the Keokuk National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Great River Honor Flight.