Barbara Davis

Barbara Lois Davis died February 21st at her home in Sherwood. Born, July 24, 1922, at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. to E. F. Goggans and his wife Mary Greenlund Goggans, Barbara was raised in the mobile environment of the U.S. Army. She lived on Army posts from Boston, to Denver, to Hawaii and every place in between. Always a good student, the only grade lower than an A she ever received was a B in Chorus. Barbara joked that mark was a grave injustice. After high school graduation in Indianapolis, she enrolled in the Leo Levi Memorial Hospital's School of Nursing in 1939. During that year, in Hot Springs, she met her future husband Edward W. Davis who was a PFC stationed at the Army-Navy Hospital. They were secretly married in March of 1942 while he was an Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet. At the time, had their marriage been discovered by the nursing school or the Army they would have been booted from the programs. Each had rules that prohibited married students from participating. "Oh, but we used such terrible judgment, but it all worked out," she said. So they lived apart. He in an Army barracks in Texas and she in a hospital nurses' dormitory in Arkansas. The reason their marriage lasted nearly fifty years, Barbara said, is that they were seldom under the same roof during the first four years of it. That summer she graduated first in her class and was graded with the highest scores on the Arkansas Board of Nursing Licensing Examination, which issued Barbara her Registered Nurse's license. She worked at her profession while her new husband piloted bombers over Europe. After Word War II, she assumed the role of an Air Force Wife, had children and made a home for her family at 21 bases during Ed's 26 year career. During that time she compiled 6,000 volunteer hours with the Air Force's Family Services Program which at that time operated with one of two paid staff. Everyone else involved with the program was an Air Force Wife. For all the good work she did within that program she was more proud that she was able to mentor younger woman who were new to Air Force life. She taught them about tradition, protocol and was a friend to them when they were homesick, lonely and afraid. "I also taught those who needed to learn, how to play bridge and how to drink. Most knew at least a little about bridge but need help learning to drink," Barbara said. She donated to many causes including the USO, Air Force Association, NAF and the B-26 Historical Association. Once Ed retired they moved to Little Rock where she became the Head Nurse of Complicated OB/GYN at UAMS. Later, Barbara became the Director of Nursing at Presbyterian Village where she retired in 1975. Highly respected for her clinical knowledge, patient care skills and leadership, Barbara was described by medical students, interns and senior medical staff as a fierce patient advocate. An imposing figure at only 5'-2" Barbara was not afraid to protect her patients from any procedure she considered abusive or unnecessary. If asked by the physician she was confronting if she believed she knew more about medicine that he, she would often say, "I have had vacations that were longer than the period of time you have been a doctor, so leave my patient in peace." Barbara supported many organizations including, the USO, Air Force Association, NAF and the Maruder Society. Prior to her husband's death in 1991, she enjoyed motor homing, fishing, watching any sort of sporting event and more than other activity...gambling. Horse racing or casinos. It didn't matter. Another of Barbara's sayings was, "It doesn't matter if you win or loose, it's the ability to keep on playing that counts." After Ed died she stayed was less active. Barbara lived alone but wasn't lonely. Solitude never bothered her. "I like to keep my own hours," she said. Over the last 18 months her health declined but not enough that she couldn't live independently. Barbara took good care of herself until she entered the hospital on February 12th. She was diagnosed with kidney failure and uterine cancer. Barbara decline treatment. In the late afternoon on February 20th she returned home, in hospice care. At 2:00 A. M. on the 21st she asked the nurse in a calm and matter of fact voice, "Where is my husband?" Then she went to sleep and died a few minutes later. Barbara is survived by her son Philip Davis of North Little Rock and his wife Valerie. Her daughter Susie Adams lives in Little Rock with her husband John. A granddaughter Allison Lafave also resides in Little and has a son, Conner. Dru Davis, her grandson, lives in Little Rock with his wife Jennifer. Jock Davis, her brother-in-law and his wife Melba reside in Russellville. Kathryn Davis, a sister-in-law, lives in Lubbock, Texas. Barbara, really enjoyed Kathryn's daughters Judy and Sandy. A short service will be held for Barbara at the Arkansas Veteran's Cemetery, in Sherwood at 12:00 noon on Tuesday February 24th. Prayers will be offered by Randy Herlock and reggie McDonald. Her pall bearers are Dru Davis, John Adams, Paschal Gagliardo, Herb Skyles, Greg Otey, Richard George and James Johnson. Randy Herlocker and Reggie McDonald will offer prayers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: The LRAFB First Sergeants' Association C/O 4300 Arlington Drive North Little Rock 72116, or donate to the National Abortion Federation, please call Suzie Adams at 501-779-1557 for the organization address. Arrangements by Huson Funeral Home. www.husonfuneralhome.com