03/20/2026
Clinton George Davis, from Waverly, New York passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday morning, March 14, 2026 at the age of 98. He was born on December 7, 1927, in Chemung, New York to Franklin Lorenzo Davis and Doris Vera Mae Blandin(g).
Clinton was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Davis (1927) and Doris Vera Mae Blandin(g) Davis Yetman (1959); by his step-father, Ralph “Tabby” Yetman (1988), by his elder brothers, Bert Carl (2002), Raymond (2014), Richard “Dick” (1955); by his elder sisters, Elizabeth Lucille “Betty” (2011), Doris (1960), Helen “Idalene” (2018); and his wife of 72 years, Elissa Miller (2024).
Like his three older brothers, Clinton went int the service at age 18. He served in the Army of the United States as a Private, 788th Ordinance Light Maintenance Company. In January 1946, at the Ordinance School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, he earned a Certificate of Proficiency for special diesel mechanics. Also, at the training base, he was trained to operate fire-fighting equipment, perform rescues, and handle base-fire protection duties to qualify as a Fire Fighter 383. He also qualified at the Expert (highest) level weapons qualification for the standard U.S. Army service rifle in 1946, the M1 Garand. He was stationed in Italy for one year with the On-Post Fire Department. He was honorably discharged on July 10, 1947, for the honest and faithful service, received a gratitude letter from President Harry S. Truman, and earned two medals: World War II Victory Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal.
Prior to serving in the Army, Clinton operated a small truck in and around a storehouse transporting freight from one department to another and to the Lehigh Valley Railroad cars in Sayre, PA. After his discharge from the Army, he was a manual laborer and worked as a machinist (cutting tool/machine parts) for most of his lifetime employed. For the first seven years of his marriage to Elissa, he worked at the Blue Swan Mills, Sayre, PA, in shipping & receiving. His learned skill of wrapping packages “correctly” was later passed on to his older daughter. Then a household move to Elmira, NY provided an easier commute to Sperry Rand Corp, in Elmira Heights for about six years. However, company lay-offs became a challenge along with short-term employment at Eclipse Machine Co. in Elmira Heights NY, Smith Corona in Cortland NY and Morse Chain Co in Ithaca NY, in 1966, he returned to Lehigh Valley area to work at Ingersoll Rand, Athens, PA. Although he eventually retired from Ingersoll Rand in 1994, the years in between were fraught with company layoffs and strikes. Consequently, he acquired some part-time work and some long-term work during the absences from Ingersoll Rand at Cash-Credit Appliances Co, Sayre, PA Valley Creamery in South Waverly, Charles Schreck Inc, “Fine Furniture & Carpeting” in Waverly, NY, Ted Clark’s Busy Market in Waverly and I.B.M. in Owego, NY.
In the latter half of his life, he attended some Lehigh Valley-area churches. He was affectionally known as “Brother Davis” by his church family. First, he was active in the Capital Assembly in Waverly, where he served as an usher, a Sunday School teacher, and loved to sing in the choir. Then he attended the Church on the Hill in Milian PA, most recently he attended the Greater Valley Assembly of God in Athens, PA.
Clinton was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his two daughters, Kim Gildersleeve (Henry), Summer Maenza (Philip Jr); and his son, Brian Davis.
He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Philip Maenza III, Caleb Maenza (Alexis), Anna Grace Maenza, Seth Davis and Luke Davis. He also leaves behind nieces, nephews and special friends who celebrate his life and mourn his passing.
A memorial service is currently planned on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Greater Valley Assembly of God in Athens, PA.
The family is being assisted by the Blauvelt Funeral Home, 625 Broad Street, Waverly, New York. Those wishing to send a message of sympathy to Clinton’s family may visit our page or at www.blauveltfuneralhome.com