James David Davenport of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was born January 22, 1924 in Alma Arkansas to Wilbur and Nellie (Sloan) Davenport and passed peacefully surrounded by family on September 10, 2019 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, after a short illness.
He is survived by:
One son-in-law:
Rodger Miller of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
One grandson:
David Miller and wife Teresa, and great grandchildren, Elodie, Esther and Evelyn of Edmond, Oklahoma
One granddaughter:
Jamie Howard and husband Kevin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Three nephews:
Jim Dolph, Don and Darrel Lampe and families
One niece:
Dixie Dolph
Many other loved family and friends
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Oleta Ford; a daughter, Donna Miller and infant son; and his sister, Wilburta Dolph.
James graduated from Howe High School.
He served as a signalman in the U.S. Navy and was present at Normandy Beach during World War II, where his ship sunk on purpose (scuttled) at Normandy to make a breakwater for the incursion force landing on the beach, yet he survived. After the war, he attended and played football at Carl Albert Junior College. He married Oleta Mae Ford from Howe, Oklahoma in 1947. James graduated from Central State College in Edmond, Oklahoma, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. He taught school and was a basketball coach at Millwood School. Then he went to work for Oklahoma City County Health Department as a water quality inspector and supervisor, and later became assistant chief. He was the first public health sanitarian to have a BS degree. He retired there in 1986. James enjoyed many sports, including playing on softball and bowling leagues, quail and dove hunting, golfing and water skiing. He loved buying, repairing and selling cars.
Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, September 13, 2019 at Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Joe Haydon Hall officiating. Burial will follow in Howe Cemetery under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener, Oklahoma.
Military honors will be provided by the Poteau Disabled American Veterans.
Pallbearers will be: His family
Viewing will be from noon until 8:30 p.m., Thursday and 8:30 a.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home.
To sign Mr. Davenport’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com