David Martin Davis, 88, of Springfield, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, March 19, 2008.

He was born on January 7, 1920, in Beaufort, North Carolina, son of Selden T. and Sarah J. Whitley Davis.

He was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, and graduated from Broughton High School. David attended the N.C. State College and began his career as an engineering draftsman at Maxwell Field, in Montgomery, Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943-1946 with rank of Sergeant. From 1946-1974, he served in U.S. Civil Service at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as an artist, art director, visual information officer, technical information specialist, staff audio-visual officer, staff photographic officer, staff motion picture and television officer, and executive in publishing. At the height of his career, he was executive to the Chief Scientist, Foreign Technology Division, U.S.A.F. Systems Command. David was rewarded the title of Visual Communication Engineer at International Seminar, Holyoke, Mass. in 1959.

After retirement, he served briefly as a curator publicist for the Springfield Art Center. From 1976 to 1991, he was chief editor and general manager of a publishing division of Graphic Paper Products Corp., Springfield. He has since then written numerous local histories and published his first novel, Dolly Varden, Ohio, in 2003, and was currently preparing a sequel to that book and a treatise on Freemasonry. He was a member and lector of Trinity Lutheran Church and a member of its council.

David was a Kentucky Colonel, a Past Master of Masons of St. Andrews Lodge # 619, F& AM; Royal and Select Master of Springfield Council # 17; Royal Arch Mason of the Shawnee Chapter # 237; Knight Templar of Palestine Commandery # 33; and a Past Patron of Neal Chapter 522, Order of Eastern Star.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia D’Arcy Catron-Davis; daughter, Kathyrn A. (Gerald) Davis Lynes of Boise, Idaho; son, Ted (Anna) Davis of Columbus; Step-daughters, Valerie Catron and D’Arcy (Steven) Catron Wagner; and step-grandson, Hunt Wagner.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Jennings Davis and daughter, Martha Susan Davis.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 24, 2008 from 5-8 P.M. with a Masonic service at 7:30 P.M. at JACKSON LYTLE WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, 2425 N. Limestone St., Springfield. Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 11 A.M. at the Trinity Lutheran Church, with visitation 1 hour prior. Pastor Roger A. Herrig officiating. Interment to follow at Rose Hill Burial Park. Military Honors will be presented at the Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1612 S. Belmont Ave.