BROOKVILLE – WWII Veteran and Darke County farmer, Bryon Davis was honored with a “Day for Davis” celebrating his 100th Birthday at Rob’s Restaurant with friends, family and veterans attending.
Greenville attorney, Ted Finnarn arranged the open house Centennial Birthday Celebration and meal for his long-time friend.
“Byron was the first client I ever had as a lawyer,” Finnarn noted. “He came to my office and that was almost 50 years ago to the day. I always promised Byron I’m not going to retire from legal business until I see his estate’s done properly so I’m locked in to practicing law until at least for a few more years.”
“Ted Finnarn has been a real, real good friend,” said Davis. “I knew his dad and I knew his grandpa – I got to talk to his grandpa. When he got to be an attorney we was buying and selling properties and I got him to fix the income tax up.”
Davis, a lifelong Darke County farmer married his high school sweetheart Ester. “We had 50 years together,” he noted.
“We raised tobacco, I was glad to get out of that. It was a year around job,” Davis stated. “After that my wife and I would take a trip and we went all over the country.”
Davis was drafted at 20 years of age and spent nearly two years in the US Navy where he was stationed at Kodiak Island, Alaska serving on the USS Agile, a mine sweeper for a year.
The Greenville Chapter of the DAR presented Davis with a certificate congratulating the WWII Veteran on his 100th birthday.
“Not everyone gets to 100 years old,” said DAR’s Debbie Nisonger. “Being a survivor of WWII we wouldn’t miss it.”
The Darke County Veterans Services presented Davis with Certificate of Recognition stating: It is a great pleasure to send you best wishes and warmest congratulations on your one hundredth birthday. Darke County Veterans Services, Commission and Staff, join your family and friends in wishing you a wonderful celebration. We honor your service and sacrifice to the United States of America. Thank You!
YMCA of Darke County CEO, Sam Casalano also presented Davis with a beautiful plaque honoring his 100th birthday.
Davis’ secret for longevity includes hard work, honesty, eating properly and playing euchre.
“In my day they didn’t have a bunch of drugs like they do now,” Davis said. “They had beer joints and all that but I stayed busy on the farm and on Saturday night they would go to Arcanum and people would congregate there. Then on Saturday night they would go to Greenville and congregate there so we stayed busy.”
“He’s a great guy and he’s a heck of a euchre player,” Finnarn concluded. “He plays cards at least five times a week, goes different places and he says that is what keeps him sharp.”
