Davis

John Nelson Davis, 93, of Kelly Boulevard, Slippery Rock, died Sunday at the Orchard Manor in Grove City from the effects of Parkinson's disease.

Born May 7, 1914, in Ellwood City, he was the son of Henry Austin Davis and Eva Jane Norton Davis.

He enjoyed vegetable gardening and yard work. Most of all, he enjoyed helping others. He will be remembered by friends, neighbors and relatives for his ability to repair most anything mechanical, eagerly donating his time and expertise in plumbing and heating and never asking or expecting anything in return.

He graduated from Princeton High School in Lawrence County at 16 and had been a steamfitter. In 1964, along with his late business partner of five years, David Klingensmith, and then with his wife, Helen, he opened Wholesale Plumbing and Heating Supply in Butler, which he owned and operated until 1985. He was a retired member of the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 47 of Northwest Pennsylvania, where he was initiated Aug. 8, 1942.

He was a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, the Valley of New Castle Lodge Council Chapter Consistory, a 50-year member of the Mahoning New Castle Lodge 243 F&AM of Pennsylvania and a member of the Center Presbyterian Church, Slippery Rock.

Surviving are a daughter, Sally M. Davis of Cleveland, Ohio; a son, John A. Davis of Slippery Rock; and many nieces and nephews.

His wife, Helen Mae Lapinsky Davis, whom he married July 30, 1936, died July 18, 2007. He also was preceded in death by five sisters, Ella Kathryn Hovis, Verda Hazel Miller, Mary Elinora Crowell, Rhoda Belle Reno and Elva Viviane Ash, and three brothers, Charles Austin, Harry Norton and Walter Clemant Davis.

<B>DAVIS </B>— Friends of John N. Davis, who died Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>Smith Funeral Home</B>, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. Visitation also will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, where the service will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. John Peterson, pastor emeritus of Center Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Princeton.A Masonic service will be held at 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Cathedral Foundation, 110 E. Lincoln Ave., New Castle, PA 16101.