Emmett Irwin Davis, Jr., 87, of Greenwood, widower of Mona Ruth Looper Davis, died Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood, May 24, 1929, he was a son of the late Emmett Irwin Davis, Sr. and Lelia Burrow Davis. Mr. Davis received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from The Citadel, Class of 1950, and was a US Army Veteran. After returning to Greenwood, he began his engineering career with Greenwood Mills. In 1954, he and co-worker Phil Floyd began Davis & Floyd, Inc.
Over the last 63 years, Davis & Floyd, Inc. has grown to become the largest privately owned engineering firm in South Carolina with offices in Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville and Greenwood and over 175 employees. Notable projections include the recovery of the Civil War submarine, The Hunley, ongoing drainage tunnel projects in Downtown Charleston and the engineering of the Conway Bypass/ Veterans Highway.
A member of Associate Reform Presbyterian Church, Mr. Davis is also a member of The Citadel Society of 1842, Citadel Foundation Steering Committee, Lander University Foundation, The Citadel Tau Beta Pi’s “Eminent Engineers”, former president of the South Carolina Historical Society and a Life Trustee of the Independent Colleges and Universities of South Carolina Foundation. He is a 2017 Laureate into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame, a 2008 recipient of “The Order of Palmetto”, awarded the Presidential Medallion from Piedmont Technical College and the Palmetto Medal by The Citadel Board of Visitors. He received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree from The Citadel and an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Erskine College.
Surviving are his three children, Emmett Irwin Davis, III and wife Lynn Ann Jalbert Davis of Greenville, Stephen Looper Davis and wife Lori Stockman Davis of Greenwood and Rebecca Ruth Davis Flack and husband Glenn Ray Flack, Jr. of Greenwood; a brother, Robert Borrow Davis and wife Jaqueline Patrick Davis of Greenwood; five grandchildren, Emmett Irwin Davis, IV, Veronica Grace Davis, Hunter Mason Davis, Ellen Marie Davis and Joshua Burrow Davis.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Sunday at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with Rev. Todd McCoy officiating.
Burial will follow in the Davis Family Cemetery at Eden Hall in McCormick County.
A reception celebrating the life of Mr. Davis will be on the grounds of Eden Hall after the graveside service.
Posted in: blythfuneralhome.com
Posted on: 2017-05-19
Link to original obituary: http://www.blythfuneralhome.com/obituary/Emmett-Irwin-Davis-Jr./Greenwood-SC/1728342