Fred L. Davis, 90, of Crawfordsville passed away Oct. 12, 2024 at his home.
Fred was born to Lewis Elmore and Mary Emily (Miller) Davis on Aug. 27, 1934. He married the former Doris Wilson, also of Crawfordsville on May 29, 1954, and they were married until her passing in October of 1974. Fred and Doris had five children, Mike (Paula), Matt, Mark (Pam), Marianne (Tim) Light and Mitch (Julie). He married the former Twylo Deckard in 1975 and added her two children to his family, Valerie (Ed) Boraker Lyon and Lisa (Shayne) Boraker Clark.
Fred was an avid gardener, carpenter, woodworker, reader and history buff. He made quick friends wherever he went, bringing his big laugh and fun personality to every room. He loved to serve people in need in Crawfordsville and wherever called with his fellow firefighters, Eagles Club members, and friends. He served with the Red Cross relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, a mission home build in Mexico, years of MDA telethons, and countless other fundraisers and bean suppers for those in need.
Fred enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1951, completing his training at MCRD in San Diego and serving as a Crash Crew Firefighter at MCSD Barstow during the Korean War. He worked at the Coffee Cup, OK Galloway, in Construction and at Raybestos until he joined the Crawfordsville Fire Department in 1960, serving as an inspector, instructor, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief in 1974-75 and chief from 1976 to 1987, retiring in 1988.
He served on the Lauderdale By-The-Sea, Florida Volunteer Fire Department in 1988-89 and then as Indiana State Fire Marshall for HAZ-MAT, in 1989 and 1990. After leaving the fire service, Fred was heath and safety director for Nor-Cote International from 1991-2004, and Montgomery County Emergency Management Director from 2001 to 2012. Fred was a rescue diver, scuba dive instructor, bomb squad member, EMT, arson investigator and HAZ-MAT specialist.
Fred leaves behind sister Beverly; five children; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother; three sisters; wife Doris; his two step-children, Valerie Lyon and Lisa Clark; and daughter-in-law Paula Davis.
Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at Hunt & Son Funeral Home, with visitation beginning at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery North.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.huntandson.com.
