William Lee Davis, Sr.

William Lee Davis, Sr, 82 of Roaming Shores, passed away Thursday, August 27, 2026.
Parkinson Disease may have ravaged his body but not the love and legacy he leaves
for his family and friends. As a man of integrity, he strived to instill the virtues of hard
work, honesty and compassion to his children.
Bill graduated from Ashtabula High school in 1961 where he excelled in Industrial Arts
and Mechanics. After serving as a Tool & Die apprentice at the Ashtabula Bow Socket,
he opened his own shop in Conneaut, the Davis Die Company.
Bill was born on July 19, 1943 in Ashtabula to Claude and Ada Belle (Furguson). He
was the youngest of 5 children.
He served in the Army National Guard earning recognition for his marksmanship. Bill
was a Mason for over 50 years with Rising Sun No. 22 Lodge. He was a member of the
El Kadir Grotto, serving as Monarch in 1985.
He was an avid bowler, golfer, scuba diver and fisherman. If the sun was out and the
fish were biting, Bill could be found on his boat with his line in Lake Erie.
Bill loved tinkering on his motorcycle and assisting neighbors with home projects. His
niece was fond of saying, “Uncle Bill can fix anything. It may not be right, but it will
always work!”
On May 21, 2005, he married the love of his life, Peggy (Margaret) Lee Callender.
Together they shared many adventures on his Harley Davidson Motorcycle and boat.
Their adventures continued when they moved to Florida. It was there that he learned
the Gulf tides are much different than those of the Great Lakes. In 2015, he was
diagnosed with Parkinson Disease. As it progressed, the decision was made to return to
his roots and nearer to his children, in 2021 they returned to Ashtabula County.
He is survived by his beloved wife Peggy; loving children Bill Jr. (June) and Bonnie
(Paul) Dibble and their mother Rose Presler; step sons Craig (Gretchen) and Jeffrey
(Jennifer) Black. His cherished grandchildren Lee, Angella, Melissa, Amanda, Amber,
Hannah and Benjamin; 9 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Ada Davis, his granddaughter
Stephanie, his siblings Nellie, Claude, Thomas, and Robert. And his “2nd ” parents:
Robert and Florence Callender.
Family will receive friends for a visitation on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from
2:00pm -3:00pm with a Celebration of Life beginning at 3:00 pm at the Fleming –
Billman Funeral Home 49 W Jefferson St. Jefferson, Ohio 44047. The family asks that in
lieu of flowers, donations be made to Reserve Care Hospice in Ashtabula, Ohio.

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