Fred Lynn Davis, 1930-2012
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Fred Lynn Davis
Fred Lynn Davis
1930-2012
Gy Sgt. Fred Lynn Davis, USMC retired, a long-time resident of Costa Mesa passed away on Dec. 30, 2012, following a three year battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).
Fred was born on Aug. 2, 1930 to Fred X. Davis and Jessie B. Davis in Mooresboro, N.C. He was proud of the fact that he grew up on a farm as a member of a large family.
He graduated from Cliffside N.C. High School, where he played baseball and basketball. He also was a star player in American Legion Baseball and remained a lifetime enthusiast of the sport.
He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1951 and served 20 years active duty, serving in Parris Island (S.C.), Camp Lejeune (N.C.), Miami, Panama, Chicago (recruiting duty), journalism school, Hollywood (CA), Vietnam, Camp Pendleton, and El Toro. He served in the Marine Infantry the first seven years, then attended journalism school and became a military journalist. In Hollywood he served as a Marine Corps liason with Desilu Productions in the production of the “Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.” TV show. He served as a combat correspondent in Vietnam and served twice as editor of the last newspaper at El Toro.
After retiring from the Marines, Fred went into newspaper work. He was news editor of the Newport Ensign, editor of the Costa Mesa News. He and his wife Rita founded their own newspaper. The Bear Valley Springs Cub, in Bear Valley Springs (near Tehachapi) in 1982. They sold the newspaper in 1999. He also edited the local city newsletter and was editor of The Grassroots, which is the official publication of the California Congress of Republicans (a volunteer group.) He also wrote a sports column and a political column for The Mountain Signal newspaper in Tehachapi. He and Rita always spent summers at their Bear Valley Springs home.
Fred was a member of: Marine Combat Correspondents Assoc., Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, California Congress of Republicans (two term state president), Exchange Club of Newport Harbor, St. Louis Browns fan club, and Central Committee, California Republican Party.
His hobbies were; baseball, travel, crossword puzzles, politics, reading, history, and stamp collecting.
Fred is survived by his wife of 37 plus years, Rita Boeche Davis, daughter Jessica Joan Davis, Deanna Lynn Rice; sons, Fred Louis Davis and Richard Alden Davis; stepsons Kenneth Michael McNabb and Gary Gene McNabb; five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
He is also survived by brothers Frankie Gene Davis of Mojave Valley, Mack Lee Davis Reynolds of Concord N.C. and half brothers Hayle Travis Davis and Russell Sparks Davis both of Shelby, N.C. and Harold Kenneth Davis of Greensville S.C. He was predecessed by a half-sister Marian Davis Packard and half-brother Leonard Lee Davis.
A memorial service honoring his remarkable life will be held at the National Military Cemetary in Riverside on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 11:45 a.m.
Online condolences may be left at www.harbordawn.com.
Donations may be made to The Children’s Hospital of Orange County Foundation, 455 South Main St., Orange, CA 92868.
