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William Franklin
“Bill” Davenport
William Franklin “Bill” Davenport went to be the Lord on January 26,
2021, following a courageous battle. Bill was born on May 6, 1956, to
William and Barbara (Blade) Davenport in Dayton, Ohio.
Bill attended The Ohio State University, majoring in dairy science.
There he met the love of his life, his wife of 43 years, Beth (Deam)
Davenport, whom he married on March 4, 1978. They built an active and
loving family with their four children: Rachel (Mike) Fearon of
Greenville, Nathan (Jennifer) Davenport of Greenville, Nicia (Josh)
Hanes of Union City, and Abbey (Chase) Moore of Arcanum. He was beloved
by his grandchildren—Madelyn, Seth, and Edee Fearon; Adrina, Brielle,
Carleigh, and Gracie Davenport; Harley, Caden, Cole, and Hadley Hanes;
and Lilly, Navie, and Toby Moore.
Bill was a dairyman at heart and managed Dalwood Dairy in Wakeman,
Ohio, for a number of years. He retired from Harvestland Co-op in 2019
and found enjoyment working at the Graves- Fearon Insurance Agency.
Bill adored his wife Beth and his family, with whom he loved spending
time at ball games, livestock shows, and fishing trips. He was a
lifelong fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cincinnati Reds, and he
traveled to numerous Big Ten championship games with Beth, their family
and friends over the years.
Bill was also devoted to his faith, instilling important values in his
family such as hard work, dedication, patience, love, and courage. At
the start of his valiant battle with cancer, Bill was introduced to
Joshua 1:9: “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be
afraid and discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you
go.” He lived this verse to the fullest, and he spent the last years of
his life fighting to be with the family and friends he loved.
In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, Bill is survived
by his mother, Barbara; his siblings Dale (Karen) Davenport, Darryl
(Bev) Davenport, Robin Burns, Darren (Kara) Davenport, and Krista (Tom)
Parker, his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Tom Deam, Michele (Steve)
Specht, Steve (Deidre) Deam, and Neil (Jennifer) Deam; and will be
dearly missed by his many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Davenport; his grandson
Kobe Michael Fearon; his father- and mother-in-law, Dale and Carol Ruth
Deam; and his sister-in-law Kathy Deam.
A celebration of Bill’s life will take place at 10:00 A.M. on Monday,
February 1, 2021 at EUM Church, Worship Center, 1451 Sater Street,
Greenville, Ohio 45331, with Pastor Jeff Harper officiating. Burial
will follow in Newcomer Cemetery.
For those who would like to join remotely, the service will be streamed
at https://eumchurch.online.church/. Please select the “Video Archive”
tab.
Guests may visit with Bill’s family on Sunday, January 31, 2021, at EUM
Church, Worship Center, from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.
Contributions in Bill’s honor can be made to State of the Heart Care,
1350 N. Broadway Street, Greenville, Ohio, 45331, or the Cancer
Association of Darke County, P.O. Box 781, Greenville, Ohio, 45331.
The family has entrusted Tribute Funeral Homes with the funeral
arrangements.
Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.Tributefuneralhomes.com
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