ROCKINGHAM — Nathan A. Davis, 94, of Rockingham, passed away on Sept. 16, 2022.
He is survived by his wife, Marie, of Rockingham; and by his daughters, Deborah of Rockingham and Donna of Charlotte.
Nathan was born in 1928 to the late Nathan Don and Eva Mae Hyatt Davis of Webster.
He had many stories to tell about growing up in the N.C. mountains, which he was happy to share with anyone who would listen. Chief among his fond memories was playing cards on the weekends with his grandmother and aunt and uncle down at the old family homeplace while listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio.
The day Nathan graduated from high school, he enlisted in the Army, where he was eventually posted to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. While in the Army, Nathan did well on the base basketball team and, upon discharge, was offered a scholarship to play for a university, which he turned down to return home to the N.C. mountains.
However life worked out quite well for Nathan, anyway. Shortly after his return , he met his future wife, Marie Lloyd of Hillsborough, who was a student at Western Carolina University. After the couple was wed, Marie finished her teaching degree and Nathan soon thereafter in 1951 got on with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
The young couple then moved to Belmont to start their careers and begin a family. Over the years with the patrol, Nathan was transferred with his family to Rockingham, to Gastonia, to Monroe, and finally back to Rockingham, where retired in 1984. Nathan enjoyed his many years on the patrol and would often speak fondly of his fellow officers.
He also made several lasting friendships in the communities in which he served. As a retiree, Nathan was very active in the North Carolina Highway Patrol Retirees Association. Attending their conventions with Marie, along with those offered by the Highway Patrol Auxiliary , ranked among the highlights of his year.
In retirement, Nathan also traveled a bit across the country to Wyoming, Montana, Hawaii, the West Coast via Amtrak, and all points in between. But what he really enjoyed the most were the visits with family members.
In addition to his wife and daughters, Nathan is survived by his sister, Evelyn Brown of Durham; his brother, Thomas Davis (Kaye) of Robbinsville; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Davis of Webster; and sister, Grace Miller of Cary.
Nathan will be remembered by many for his big smile, love of fellowship, and sense of humor. He loved playing cards, playing at the guitar, listening to country and western music and watching the North Carolina Tar Heels win at anything, but especially basketball.
Nathan was a member of First United Methodist Church in Rockinghan, where his funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, with Pastor Darrel Bowles officiating.
Visitation will be from 10–11 a.m. at the church, prior to the service.
Entombment will be in Hillsborough Town Cemetery, in Hillsborough.
Condolences may be made online at carterfuneral.net.
Carter Funeral Home is honored to serve the Davis family.
