WILLIAM C. DAVIS Dec. 22, 1925 – April 5, 2017
William C. Davis, 91, of Los Alamos died April 5, 2017. Bill was born in Manchester, New Hampshire on December 22, 1925, to Chester T.C. Davis and Eleanor Scamman Davis. He attended the public schools, and enlisted in the wartime United States Navy the week he graduated from high school in 1943. His service took him to the rank of RT1c, and the Asiatic Pacific ribbon with two stars and the Philippine Liberation ribbon with one star.
After the war he attended Tufts College and received the degree Bachelor of Science in Engineering summa cum laude. He then went to Johns Hopkins University and received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1954.
Bill was employed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory full time from 1954 to 1987, and then part time until the present. His assignment was to study the details of the processes in high explosives. He was coauthor with Wildon Fickett of a book titled Detonation. He also wrote two chapters of the book Explosive Effects and Applications edited by J. A. Zukas and W. P. Walters. He wrote many papers and reports, and found his work enjoyable and rewarding. He never felt that he had to work, just entertain himself by finding how things operate. Both experiment and theory were part of his effort. Director Donald Kerr appointed him a Laboratory Fellow in 1982.
Nancy Hutchinson and William Davis were married in December 1950. They had four wonderful children, and many enjoyable adventures. It didn’t last, and they were divorced in January 1971. Bill married Margaret Cross in 1975, and got three more wonderful children from her previous marriage. Bill and Maggie were divorced in 1988.
Bill made the most of the outdoor activities. He skied in winter, both downhill and cross country. He was on the ski patrol for a dozen years, and on winter search and rescue teams. In summer there was backpacking with children from three years old to ones much older, in Bandelier backcountry, Pecos wilderness, San Pedro Parks wild area, Peralta Canyon, and canoe trips to Shoshone Lake in Yellowstone National Park.
He is survived by his children Jim Davis (Nancy Morgan), Jack Davis (Cathy), Bob Davis (Clarity Kjis), Anne Davis (Patrick “Red” Howard), and his stepchildren Shelly Cross (Troy Matevia), Katy Cross, and Doug Cross, as well as 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, and his beloved sister Marjorie D. Lane.
He was revered and loved by his family, his many friends and colleagues. His kindness, wit, and great generosity will be deeply missed.
