William R. “Bill” Davis of Wilmington, Delaware and the Villages, Florida, passed away on January 13, 2022, after a brief but valiant battle with cancer. He was the husband of Barbara F. Haus. He was born in West Chester, PA to Bennett H. Davis and Jeanette (Dempsey) Davis. After his mother’s death when he was six years old, Bill went to live with his maternal aunt Blanche Hatton and her husband Elmer. His father remarried a few years later and he became the beloved stepson of Jane (Haws) Davis. Bill graduated from Chester High School in 1956 and studied at Franklin and Marshall College. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Drexel Institutue of Technology in 1964 and a PhD in organic chemistry from Rutgers University in 1967. Bill’s career included working for the Sun Oil Company, Hatco Chemical Co., and the Polaroid Corporation. He served as plant manager at M&T Chemicals, among other positions, and retired from Sigfried (USA) in 2003. While an undergraduate, he met Yolanda Fiscarelli. The two shared 53 years of marriage until Yolanda’s death in 2010. Bill and Yolanda had three beloved children, William Jr. (wife Lisa Impalli) of Golden, Colorado; David of Newark, Delaware; and Jane (husband James Bishop ) of South Plainfield, New Jersey. He leaves behind four beloved grandchildren, Paula I. Davis, Carlo I.Davis, Jayme A. Bishop, and Jessica A. Bishop. In 2013, Bill was lucky enough to meet Barbara F. Haus, who was happily married but widowed when her husband, Michael Haus, died from cancer. The two quickly became inseparable and received the sacrament of matrimony in 2017 for their “second time around.” Bill was thrilled to spend time with Barbara and her children, Jennifer Haus (husband Kevin Gleeson), Kelly Haus and Michael Haus, Jr. He loved spending time with his step-grandchildren, Jacob Hult, Joseph Haus and Michaell Haus, III and step great-granddaughter, Veronica Haus. Bill was a member of the South Plainfield Jaycees, the Brigantine Lions Club, and the Knights of Columbus. He was a loyal life-long fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies. An avid sailor, Bill volunteered with the Seamen’s Center of Wilmington, DE and earned the nickname of “Popeye”. Always athletic, Bill enjoyed the Villages’ lifestyle where he could play softball, basketball and golf. He loved to travel in his Road Trek to visit with friends and family across the USA. Bill’s life will be celebrated at a memorial mass on February 17, 2022 at 10 am at St. Mark The Evangelist Church in Summerfiled, Florida. A luncheon will follow. Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to The Little Sisters of the Poor, Newark, DE and the American Cancer Society.
