LEWIS BYRON DAVENPORT BIOGRAPHY

He attended the Allen and Fulmore Junior High. He graduated from Austin High School in 1937. He attended the University of Texas for 3 ½ years, majoring in Electrical Engineering.

He was drafted into the Army in 1941, receiving his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. He was then sent with a regiment of Engineers to Alaska where he helped survey the Alaskan Military Highway. After a year of bitter cold and treading mud through the jungles he transferred to the Air Force. He attended Officers Training School at Yale University. Upon graduating he was sent to McCook, Nebraska with the B-29 Squadron. While stationed at McCook Air Base he met and fell in love with Leah Mae Guthrie, daughter of Leland Archie & Charlotta Augusta (Bonar) Guthrie. After a whirlwind romance Lewis and Leah were married in Oberlin, Kansas on January 17, 1945.

Lewis was sent to the Marianans Islands stationed on Tinian Island with the 9th Bomb Group, 1st Squadron that took an active part in the bombing of Japan. Atomic bombs were loaded on Tinian. When the Peace Treaty was signed Lewis was in a huge flight of B-29's over Tokyo. After the war he returned to Indianola, NE to take Leah and his 3 month old son, Robert Lewis Davenport to Austin, Texas to make their home, arriving at Lewis' parents home in Austin on Christmas Eve of 1945.

Lewis was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant in February, 1946. He was employed as a pressman for the Austin American Statesman for 43 years, 5 months, retiring in 1982 at the age of 62 years old.

He was involved with church work at South Austin Christian Church where he served as a Deacon, Elder and Chairman of the church board. He was elected Elder Emeritus.

Lewis enjoyed spending time at their Marble Falls lakehome with his family. He was very family- oriented and received great joy from his children and grandchildren. He loved to hunt and fist. In 1981 Leah's brothers, Lyle and Lewis Guthrie from NE went to Texas to spend a few days fishing with Lewis and Leah. In 1982 and 1983 the Guthrie boys met Lewis at Lake Texoma for some fun and fishing with Oklahoma friends. Their brother-in-law, Herb Harris from Colorado joined them in 1983. Leah joked that it took her two weeks, to re-convert her husband after he'd spent time with all that corruption. Lewis and Leah enjoyed fishing together.

In July 1984, Lewis, Leah and grandson Lew drove to Nebraska to visit relatives and do some fishing at Lake McConaughy. It was during this trip they got word of the death of Lewis' father. Lewis' retirement plans were to do a lot of traveling, hoping that someday he could take Leah to Alaska to show her the places he helped surveyed ... but, none of this was to be. In October, 1984 Lewis was found to have a malignant tumor on the brain. Further tests showed cancer behind his esophagus. Radiation and chemotherapy treatments followed. Though his sickness drained him physically, his spirit never wavered, and his faith gave him the courage to face what befell him

Lewis Byron Davenport passed away on Monday, September 9, 1985. He was preceded in death by his father, Edwin Francis Davenport Jr. (July 16, 1984); mother, Lillian Marie Moore Davenport (Nov. 17, 1956); son, Robert Lewis Davenport (April 14, 1975) and brother Edwin Francis Davenport III.

His survivors included his wife, Leah, of Austin; daughters Diana Marie Tarvin, and husband Claude Tarvin, Marble Falls, Texas; Mauri Lee Burnell, Lago Vista, Texas; and Linda Gayle Davenport, Austin; brother Samuel Moore Davenport, Conroe; and uncle Lewis Bolet Davenport, Wimberly; and his grandchildren: Toff Matthew Davenport, New Orleans, LA; April DeAnn Tarvin, Marble Falls, TX; William Lewis Burnell, Christina Marie Burnell, Robert Francis Burnell, and Bradley Jason-Byron Burnell of Lago Vista, TX