J. Llewellyn 'Lew' Davies

John Llewellyn (Lew) Davies, 85, of 431 Sunnyside Ave., Meadville, PA, died December 21, 2003 at home after a long illness.

Born at Buhl Hospital, Sharon, August 3, 1918, he was the son of John L. and Nora Miller Davies.  He married Eleanor H. Bainer on July 27, 1948.  She survives.

He graduated as an honor student in 1936 from Sharon High School.  A 1940 graduate of Allegheny College he majored in Business and Economics and was a member and President of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.

In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as Apprentice Seaman and was released in July 1946, as Lieutenant Commander.  He saw active duty primarily on the U.S.S. Lackawanna, a fueling-at-sea fleet oiler.  Lieut. Commander Davies was the recipient of Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 11 Battle Stars, Philippine Liberation Medal, Philippine Presidential Citation, American Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal.  He was the last survivor of three former officers who in 1985 started annual Lackawanna shipmate’s reunions.

In Meadville he was General Manager of an automobile and tire dealership until 1950 when he started Davies Pontiac, later changed to Lew Davies Enterprises when he acquired Jeep, American Motors, Allegheny-Rent-a-Car, and Ski-Doo Snowmobiles.  He had been President of the Pittsburgh Pontiac Zone Council, President of the Detroit Regional Council and was honored by his election to the Pontiac National Dealer Council.

He had been President of the Pennsylvania Automotive Assn. and elected to be an Honorary Lifetime Director.  Davies was Chairman, Pennsylvania Automotive Insurance Trust; Chairman, Pennsylvania State Motor Vehicle License Board; Chairman, Pennsylvania Safety Committee; Director and Co-Founder of Erie-Pittsburgh-West Virginia Highway Assn. that made I-79 a reality.

In 1968 Davies received the Pennsylvania Quality Dealer-of-the-Year Award.  In 1969 he was the national winner of the Benjamin Franklin Quality Dealer Award by the SATURDAY EVENING POST (now given by TIME Magazine).  It is based on good citizenship, community service and contribution to the automotive industry.

When he sold the automobile agencies, he expanded Lew Davies Enterprises into commercial development, which includes some well-known buildings in the Meadville Area.  Some of his partnerships included Vernon Acres (owned with sons), Tracydale Development and Brooks Brothers of Meadville (commercial real estate), Pitt Park Racing Assn., Mountain Laurel Racing Assn., three Florida Nutri-System Health Centers, Universal Security Protection Agency in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Ft. Mead Sales Corp, ELCO Insurance Agency and a Board of Director of Fleet of America, Inc., headquartered in Buffalo.

Davies was President of the Chamber of Commerce when it celebrated its 150th year as one of the oldest Chambers in the country.

He was the last surviving member of the Board that founded the Meadville Area Industrial Commission (MAIC) where he had served as Chairman and President.  When lack of funds prevailed, he served as Executive Director for three years at $1.00 a year.  During that time, he made certain all bonds requested were paid back to individuals or charitable organizations.

He was past President and Co-founder of the Crawford County Industrial Development Authority that provided premium financing for various businesses through banks or other financial institutions.

Davies initiated Greater Meadville Area Day in 1969 and was awarded the Winslow Award in 1978, as well as the Keystone Award, for his contribution to the economic growth in the area.  He received citations from the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives for his civic achievements.

He was past Chairman of the 1985 Community Chest Drive (forerunner of the United Way which he helped organize.)  Again in 1991, Davies was Chairman of the United Way – both drives achieving their goal.  Also, he led successful fund-raising campaigns for Allegheny College, the Erie Presbytery, American Red Cross, and the YMCA where he had served on the Board for many years.

He led a campaign that provided seed money for a feasibility study to build an assisted living center on the former United Methodist/Cribbs Home campus.  This successful community is now known as Wesbury United Methodist Community.

Davies was a past member of the Pennsylvania Council of Aging in Harrisburg.  He was the co-founder and first President of Active Aging, Inc. located in the Lew Davies Community Building, which serves centers all over Crawford County.  He also presided over the Active Aging Community Foundation that is financial advisor for Active Aging, Inc.

At Allegheny College, Davies had been a Trustee since 1993, and at his death was the oldest active Trustee in Allegheny College history.  He had served on the Alumni Council, and was the past President of the Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Chapter, Alumni Corporation and Foundation.

He received the Allegheny College/Chamber of Commerce Gov. Raymond P. Shafer Award for Distinguished Community Service in 1996.  The following year he was presented with the Allegheny College Gold Citation and in 2000, the coveted Alumni Award for his lifetime achievements. Davies was awarded the Robert Garbark Memorial Alumni Award.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Meadville Round Table, Taylor Hose, American Legion, Elks Lodge #219, Masonic Lodge #408, Scottish Rite Bodies of Erie, Crawford County Shrine Club and Zem Zem Shrine Temple, Erie.  He was past President of the Meadville Country Club and the Iroquois Boating & Fishing Club, Conneaut Lake.

In addition to his wife, Eleanor (Ellie), survivors include: three sons, David Bainer and his wife Linda of Barrington, R.I; Jack Davies and his wife Lynne Williams of Washington, D.C. and Stephen Davies of New York City; two sisters, Ruth Nesbit of Lancaster, PA and Helen Locke of Warren, OH; four grandchildren, Keith Bainer of San Francisco, Andrew Bainer of Barrington, RI, Katie Bainer of Manassas, VA and Derek Davies of Washington, DC and a great-grandson, Noah Bainer of Black Mountain, NC.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut St., Meadville.

A memorial service will be held in January on a date to be announced at the First Presbyterian Church, Meadville.

A private family service will be held Tuesday morning with Rev. David Fugate, Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Burial with military honors will be in Greendale Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Active Aging Foundation located in the Lew Davies Community Building at 1034 Park Ave., Meadville, PA 16335 or to Allegheny College - Davies Family Community Service Programs, 520 N. Main Street, Meadville, PA 16335.