Robert J. Davis Jr.
April 11, 1925 - July 8, 2008
Obituary
Bob was born at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco on April 11, 1925 to Robert Joseph Davis, Sr. and Ethel Arnold Davis. When he was two years old they moved to Los Angeles where he recalled shooting jack rabbits from the streetcar in Santa Monica.
Bob served as a quartermaster on the U.S.S. Cape Esperance during World War II, after which he attended The University of Southern California and The University of Chile in Santiago. Employment in a meat packing plant in Buenos Aires and a desire to communicate with beautiful girls resulted in fluency in Spanish that he employed with joy throughout his life.
After 2 years in South America, he returned to Los Angeles to work with his father’s advertising agency, moving to the Carnation Company advertising department after his father’s death. He worked for 19 years at Carnation with people he enjoyed and had many lifelong friends from that time.
He and a partner then established a direct mailing advertising business. When he retired from marketing and advertising, he devoted most of his time to research and investing in the stock market.
In 1952, he met the love of his life, Sallianne Nissen native of Reliance, South Dakota. He wooed her with poetry and persistence, and they were wed in Guadalajara before the end of the year. Bob and Sal made their home in the San Fernando Valley for forty years, raising two daughters whom he loved deeply. He was proud of their accomplishments, celebrated with them in good times and supported them in hard times. He delighted in the birth of his granddaughters and enjoyed sharing his life with them.
He was passionate about learning and respected for his intelligence. This led to wide ranging travel and lifelong learning. He was especially enthusiastic about the Lifetime Learning Center in Seattle where he took classes for 10 years. He was cheerful and witty. He loved to cook and eat and enjoyed a really good wine. Wherever he traveled he made new friends, and his home was open to friends and family. Bob was generous with his time in retirement. He volunteered his marketing skills and wonderful reading voice at Recording for the Blind in Los Angeles. He also volunteered at the Museum of Science and Industry, and in Sal’s Fair Avenue School second grade classroom where the student needed help in acquiring English.
Bob said he had had a good life and had no fear of death. He succumbed to a combination of congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes. He remained lucid until almost the last, still witty and generous hearted, and family members had meaningful conversations with him the day before his death. He died on Tuesday night, July 8, peacefully at home with family at his side. Bob is survived by his wife, Sallianne; daughters Karleen Davis, Boise, ID, Patricia Davis, Berkeley, CA; and two granddaughters Rhiannon and Sally.
A memorial service and reception will be held at Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church, 14724 First Ave NE, Shoreline, Sunday, July 20 at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers please consider a remembrance to the charity of your choice.