Obituary of Richard N. Davis

A lover of nature, and all creatures great and small, Richard N. Davis, age 72, passed away on March 3, 2018. Born March 28, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His family moved around when he was younger, however the majority of his childhood was spent in Minneapolis. He was proud of his first job selling peanuts at the baseball stadium there. In 1962, his family moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, where he graduated from Northwood High School. After graduation, he joined the US Army during the Vietnam War period. However his typing abilities were so good that he spent the majority of his service in Germany. After his service, he enrolled in Upper Iowa University. It was there he meet his soulmate, Janet. Together they shared life's adventures filled with travel and love. In 1983, they were joined by a beloved daughter, Christina Noelle. During his career, Richard worked with the VA in Washington, DC, as a human resources officer. In April 2004, he and Janet retired on the same day, to embark on a 'new ' life together. Richard enjoyed his retirement, volunteering widely. He volunteered for Meals on Wheels; and as a docent for the Butterfly house at Brookside Garden; and the National Zoo, both in the zoo's invertebrate house and at its Children's Farm. At the zoo, his favorite activity was conducting demonstrations feeding Caroline,the Giant Pacific Octopus. He and Janet moved to the Villages in October 2009. He loved everything about his new life here. Especially making a new set of wonderful friends, golfing, and spending time in the squares enjoying the music with Janet. He continued to volunteer, this time with the Lady Lake Christian Food Pantry. During Richard and Janet's life together, they traveled widely throughout the US and Europe, enjoying the natural beauty of God's creation and their time together. Over his life, they were bitten by the cruising bug, and enjoyed many cruises, mostly to the Caribbean. There his favorite activities were snorkeling and swimming with the fish and sea turtles. During these trips, Richard always said how happy and lucky he was to have found someone who loved doing the same things he did. They made a tradition of going on a 14 day Southern Caribbean cruise for his birthday. Unfortunately, his life ended too early for his 2018 cruise. Richard will be sorely and deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. He is survived by his beloved wife of 44 and half years, Janet, and their daughter, Christina. He is also survived by a sister, Carolyn Blankenship, her husband Denny, and their family. Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly." If desired, donations in Richard's name may be made to the Lady Lake Christian Food Pantry, or Brookside Botanical Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. Arrangements entrusted with HIERS-BAXLEY Funeral & Cremation Life Event Center, 3975 Wedgewood Lane, The Villages, FL 32162. Sentiments may be left online at www.hiers-baxley.com.