Rodney Davis

Davis, Rodney Ray, 68, passed away peacefully at home, on July 9, 2022, after a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Rodney was born August 18, 1953, in Harrison, Arkansas to RT and Emma Jean (Martin) Davis. He grew up mainly in Wichita, Kansas with his brother, Jack, who is seven years younger. When he was 13, Rod and Jack went to live with family in Arkansas for two years as his parents were in Cleveland, Ohio, where his mother was waiting for, and received a kidney transplant. That early experience created a lot of compassion in Rod towards sick, elderly and the disabled.

Rod graduated from West High in 1971 and attended WSU for 2 semesters. Rod worked as a warehouse foreman at Ardans, Garage Sales of America and Weidman Metal Masters before taking up the HVAC trade at Weidman. Rod worked for 24 years at several HVAC companies in Wichita before becoming disabled by Parkinson’s in 2004. He was a math nerd and did algebra and trigonometry problems for fun. He later tutored his wife so that she could pass college algebra.

Rod met his wife, Angie, at her workplace, Amvets. Rod was friends with Angie’s manager and frequented the used resale shop. The joke was, that he picked his wife up in a used shop really cheap! Rod and Angie married on May 29, 1982; nine months after they initially met. Angie was not able to have children, so the plan was to adopt. They have several children who they assisted in raising and consider “theirs” only one was formally adopted!

Rod is preceded in death by his parents, RT and Emma Davis; stepmom, Patsy Davis; daughter, Mary Alvesteffer; and nephew, Jacob Davis. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Angie; son, Nathan (Maria) Davis and their children, Jr, Malachi, Aralynn, and Grace Davis, Dani Hacking; Mary Alvesteffer’s children, Michael, Daniel, and Richard Alvesteffer, Amanda Loving, and Cassandra Alvesteffer. A niece Laura Davis and a late in life adoptee, Theresa Suter, with her children, Paige Suter, Octavia Hernandez and Jaxon Suter. Other family members he was extremely fond of, sister-in-law, Pam (Mike) Bourell, a nephew, Jesse Chambers; and niece, Cristina (Shawn) Helmstadter and their children. He has several great nieces and nephews who call him “Uncle Rod”, as well as five great-grandchildren.

While Rod was considered disabled as he could not continue to work in the HVAC trade, he kept busy. He had a passion for classic cars and always had several parked in the yard or garage. He loved going to garage sales and storage auctions. He did a lot of research on the internet and bought items in on-line auctions. Until 2010, he was also active in his church, Park Place Ministry Center, where he was a bus driver, children church worker, board member and worked behind the scenes in their Easter drama.

In 2010, Rod was hospitalized with necrotizing fasciitis, and almost died. After that hospitalization, his mobility was severely limited. He was no longer able to drive, and his vision was affected, so he was no longer able to use the computer. Since March of 2020, Rod has been homebound and has received care through Via Christi Home Health. Interim Healthcare provided hospice services his last week of life. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Park Place Ministry Center or the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation.

Rod will be remembered as a being a patient and loving individual with a great sense of humor. A wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. We already miss him!

Pending service with Culbertson-Smith Mortuary.