William H. Davis

William H. Davis, 67 of Johnstown, died October 11, 2016 at Memorial Medical Center.  Born August 13, 1949 in Johnstown, son of the late Harry T. and Mary (Harris) Davis. Survived by sister, Rita M. Davis-Geist (and David) of Johnstown, brother, Curtis Davis (and Mary Lou Campanaro) of Johnstown, and brother, John T. Davis (and Jane Lindsay) of Salt Lake City, Utah.  Also survived by nephew, Theodore G. Davis, niece Jordan Davis Maxwell (and Alex), great-nephew, Cohen D. Maxwell and niece, Rhyan L. Davis, all of Salt Lake City Utah. Bill graduated from Johnstown High School in 1967, having been a very active honor student and an officer of his class.  He then attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Education / Social Studies.  In 1994, he earned a Masters of Public Management (MPM) Degree at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.  Bill began his career pursuits as a full-time substitute teacher in the Pittsburgh City Schools for seven years.  Always having a keen interest in government affairs, Bill accepted a position in the Pittsburgh City Finance Office as a Performance Auditor.  Several years later he was hired as a Systems Analyst, under the mentoring guidance of Mayor Sophie Maslov, for whom he had great respect.  He continued as a Systems Analyst in Mayor Tom Murphy’s administration, leaving after a total of 15 years in city government.  In 1997, he relocated to Salem, Oregon, where he again worked as a Management Analyst for the Oregon Department of Revenue and the Department of Transportation.  After leaving city government, he returned to his love of teaching.  He taught for four years at B.C.T.I. (Business Computers Training Institute), a private school.  Bill also did independent consulting in Business Applications.  Upon his return to Johnstown in 2008, he became an adjunct professor at Mount Aloysius College, the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.  He was teaching at Penn Highlands C.C. as a senior adjunct when he became ill.  Like his siblings, he found great satisfaction in teaching his students the skills needed to succeed.  In his personal life, Bill was our “Don Quixote,” always wanting to help those less fortunate, to “right the wrongs” in society wherever possible.  His friends through the years attested to this quality.  Bill was a man of simple material needs, a computer, a television, his books, and a used car.  He loved the political discussion shows on t.v. often analyzing events better than media people themselves.  Movies and music were also passionate pastimes of his.  Bill grew up in a Christian home, having been baptized in the Methodist faith and having regularly attended as a member of Calvary Methodist  Church in the West End.  Bill was loved very much by his family and close friends, and will be sorely missed.  The solace comes knowing , as a child of God, his pain and suffering are no more.  At the request of the deceased, there will be no public viewing.  A private memorial service will be held at the family’s convenience.  Arrangements are being completed by Picking-Treece-Bennett Mortuary, Inc., with interment at Grandview Cemetery.  Rev. Larry Rowe will conduct the memorial service.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or to a charity of your choice.

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