Roy Melvin Davenport, 93, son of the late Roy and Grace Davenport of Spartanburg, S. C., joined his Lord in Heaven on November 18, 2016.
A much-loved member of the Peachtree City Community, Roy was a WWII and Korean War veteran, engineer and businessman, musician, husband and father, and community and church leader and volunteer. Roy made friends easily in life, winning affection with his quick wit, engaging smile, warm heart and striking good looks. He also won the respect of many for his dignity, discipline, and sharp, inquisitive mind that belied his age. In spite of his many achievements and enviable attributes, Roy took the most pride in his cherished roles as husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Roy’s steadfast Christian example encouraged all of us who knew and loved him to work to be our best, to love God, and make peace with our neighbors and ourselves.
Born November 14, 1923, Roy spent his childhood in Spartanburg, S.C. and Asheville, N.C. An exceptional student, he graduated high school at age 16 and entered Clemson University to study mechanical engineering and train for military service. Roy was also a talented musician, playing clarinet in high school and earning State-wide honors. At Clemson, he led the school’s marching band. Prior to graduation from college, Roy was called to active duty in Europe during the latter stages of WWII, entering as a second lieutenant and S2 intelligence officer in the US Army’s 65th Infantry Division. Following Patton’s armored division through France and Germany, Roy’s battalion encountered the enemy on numerous occasions. In one particularly daring feat, Roy singlehandedly forced the surrender of an enemy platoon occupying a village in the path of his company’s advance. On orders from his commanding officer, Roy maneuvered his Jeep at high speed through enemy fire into the town. Ducking into a local shop, Roy forced the shopkeeper at gunpoint to find and return the German commanding officer, who then wisely surrendered his troops. Roy was subsequently awarded the Bronze Star for heroic achievement.
Roy returned to Clemson after the war to take up Civil Engineering, graduate with his degree in 1944, and begin his career in building construction. As an Army reservist, he was called back to duty during the Korean War, where he served as Captain in the Army Corps of Engineers responsible for airfield construction. Not long after his return to the US, Roy met Martha Hoffman of Memphis, Tenn., who became his wife of 63 years. They settled in South Florida, where the couple’s two children were born. Roy eventually became Vice President of Witters Construction Company in Miami, where he managed a number of large commercial construction projects. Roy was an active and giving member of the Miami community, serving as president of the Hialeah/Miami Springs Rotary Club, Presbyterian Church deacon, and president of Westminster Christian HS athletic booster club. Soon after his retirement, Roy and Martha moved to Peachtree City, Ga., where they enjoyed being closer to their children and grandchildren, as well as their mountain home in Saluda, N.C.
Since retirement, Roy continued his service to God and community, teaching Sunday school at Evergreen Church and volunteering at Piedmont-Fayette Hospital. In addition, he took time to indulge his love of reading, stay in shape, play an occasional round of golf, and delight in being with his family.
Roy is survived by his wife of 63 years, Martha H. Davenport, his son, daughter, and son-in-law, Mark Davenport, Donna Brown and David Brown, grand-children Christy Brown, Charlotte Brown, Allyn Davenport, John Davenport, and Diana Davenport, and grand-child Colton Brown, as well as nieces and nephews by his late sister and her late husband, Nell and Harold Herzog.
Roy’s life will be celebrated in a memorial service on December 9th at Evergreen Church in Peachtree City, Ga. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the VFW (www.vfw.org) or Operation Home front (www.operationhomefront.net).
