Edwin W. Davis – Elizabeth Township
Edwin W. Davis, 95, of Elizabeth Township, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. He was born Dec. 4, 1927, in Cochranton, Crawford County, Pa. He was the son of the late Alexander W. and Gladys Patterson Davis. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret McClure Davis; and his two brothers, William R. and Robert N. Davis. He is survived by his two children, Dr. Edwin McClure (Donna) Davis of Elizabeth Township and Barbara D. (William) Burig of Durham, N.C.; four grandchildren, Jessica D. Kislak (Scott), Justin Davis, Amy B. D’Unger (Philip) and Jonathan D. (Kimberly Cowan) Burig; three great-grandchildren, Kaylyn, Bennett and Samantha; and nephew, Wayne W. (Susan) Davis. Edwin graduated from Cochranton High School in 1944 and from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa., in 1951. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, was the captain of the men’s soccer team in 1950, and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He served 18 months in the U.S. Army in 1946-47. He entered the G.C. Murphy Company Management Executive Development Program in 1951, served in five Western Pennsylvania Murphy stores and in 1960 advanced to Murphy’s home office in McKeesport as assistant to the director of public and employee relations. He was named director of public and employee relations in 1975 and retired as such in 1986. He served for 30 years as the secretary and administrator of the G.C. Murphy Company Foundation and was a director of the Foundation (1986 on). He was a member and director of the Pennsylvania Retailers Association from 1968-1986. He served as chairman of the board (1981-83) and was named Pennsylvania’s “Retailer of the Year” in 1984. He was a member and director of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce from 1972-1980. He was a member of the Mon Yough Chamber of Commerce (1960-1986), where he served as director (1972-1986), president (1978), executive director (1987-1990). He served as a director and vice chairman of the McKeesport Area Conference and McKeesport Development Corporation. He served as a director and president of the McKeesport Heritage Center (1995-96), and director and chairman of the Junior Achievement of Southwest PA Mon Yough Center. In addition, he was the chapter chairman for G.C. Murphy Company of the United Way of Allegheny County and received the Edgar M. Mack United Way Memorial Award in 1978. Edwin was a member of the McKeesport Hospital Foundation for 15 years and served as the secretary-treasurer for 10 years. He was the chairman of the National Retail Public Affairs Conference (1976) and director and vice chairman of the Allegheny O.I.C. He was an advisory board member of the Penn State University McKeesport campus (1987-2000). He was a member of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greenock, where he served as a council member and president for more than 20 years. He was a member of Youghiogheny Country Club, the Commonwealth Lodge F&AM in Erie, Pa., and was a 32nd degree Mason. He was a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Pittsburgh. Friends are welcome from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, at GILBERT FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY INC. 6028 Smithfield St., Boston, PA 15037, 412-751-5000, Drew J. Gilbert, director. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church. Entombment will follow at the Mount Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church at 641 Zimmer Hill Road, Greenock, PA 15047, or to your favorite charity. Condolences can be made at Gilbertfuneralhomeandcrematory.com.
