Davis, George
George Herbert Davis III, 96, of Granby, CT, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2023 at St. Mary's Home in West Hartford.
The son of George H. Davis II and Karolyn Knott Davis, George was born and raised in Worcester, MA. As a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the US Navy during WWII, he served on the USS Bremerton (CA-130) before attending Clark University, where he majored in mechanical engineering. During his 33 years at United Technologies,he designed fuel cells to generate electricity for both the Apollo rockets and large buildings in Japan. After his retirement, he worked first as a home inspector and then as a part-time librarian at Granby Public Library for 20 years.
George enriched his life with many hobbies. He trained his first golden retriever - High Farms Golden Dell's Heidi - up through her Utility Dog Excellent degree. He went on to work as an obedience judge for dog shows around the country for more than 20 years, often bringing home entertaining anecdotes of dog (and handler) behavior in the ring. He also served in multiple officer positions in the Farmington Valley Kennel Club, including President.
Throughout his adulthood George also enjoyed playing music (recorders, sousaphone, and ocarina), woodworking, bread baking, cross-country skiing, jewelry making, bad puns, gardening, photography, tag sales, bird watching, visiting Cape Cod and Maine, walking in the woods, and visiting baby calves and lambs at local farms each spring. A skilled handyman and ardent do-it-yourselfer, he prided himself on maintaining his home and cars for many years.
George was the 12th of his Davis line in New England; his ancestors helped found and are buried in Concord and fought in the Revolutionary War. He was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Barbara Ann Davis, his brother, William Knott Davis, and his son, George H. Davis, IV. He leaves behind his loving and grateful daughters, Deborah Davis Shaw of Granby, CT and Susan Elisabeth Davis of Alameda, CA, as well as his two grandchildren, Phoebe Schuyler Brand of Brooklyn, NY and Harrison Davis Brand of Aptos, CA. George's love, humor, and generosity will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held at Hayes-huling Funeral Home in Granby on April 1, 2023. Visiting hours will be from 10-11 am at the funeral home, followed by the service at 11 and then internment at the Granby Cemetery. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Farmington Valley Kennel Club or the Granby Land Trust.