Bruce Elbert Davis, 77, of La Plata, Md., formerly of Ashe County, was born on Jan. 9, 1934, in Hurricane, Ashe County, to Walter Worth and Birdie Bell (Hartsog) Davis. Bruce attended Lansing school until about 1948 when his family moved to Washington, D.C., where he graduated from Eastern High School. Bruce began working and taking night classes to study architecture, when he was drafted into service. It was while stationed in Germany that he received a letter from a pen pal which led to a storybook romance and marriage to Eleanor E. Krause. They made their home in La Plata where they raised their children, Sue, Lisa and Sally. Sept. 12 marked their 52nd wedding anniversary.

Early in Bruce’s career, he found that he had a talent for estimating which led to a life long profession as a General Contractor. He started his business, Bruce Davis, Inc. with his wife, Ellen, in the den of their home. With the addition of his brother, Mack, they formed The Davis Corporation which built some of the area’s most prominent buildings including the Charles County Courthouse, several buildings at the College of Southern Maryland, numerous schools, the Richard Clark Senior Center and the Fine Arts Center at St. Mary’s College in which the theater is named in his honor. Though officially retired, he couldn’t stay away and offered his broad experience and knowledge to “his girls” in their businesses.

Bruce also believed in a commitment to his community as he served as president of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce and first president of local United Way chapter, on the board of Hawthorne County Club and the board of Maryland National Bank. With his brother, he established the Melwood Golf Tournament, which continued to benefit one of his favorite charities for many years.

Bruce loved to play golf, watch baseball, and took great pride in caring for his yard. What he loved most was spending time with his family: his wife, Ellen Davis; and children, Sue Ellen Davis (Mike McCook), Nanjemoy, Md.; Lisa (George) Holmes, La Plata, Md.; and Sally Davis, La Plata, Md.; grandchildren, Christine Dennery Hill, Kerry (Petia) McCook, Rexford George Holmes and Sarah Wescott Holmes; sister, Barbara (Fred) Stevens; nieces and nephews, Beth Davis, Douglas (Jill) Davis, Stacey (Timmy) Fennell, Christopher (Candy) Stevens, Gabrielle (Julie) Stevens, Stephanie Stevens, Michael (Alexandra) Brainerd, Cynthia (Richard) Grove, Aaron (Jennifer) Mosberg.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Worth and Birdie Bell; brothers, Mack Davis and Ansel Jack Davis; and son-in-law, George Holmes.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, at Raymond Funeral Chapel, 5635 Washington Avenue, La Plata, MD 20646.

Funeral service will be Saturday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m. at Christ Church, Durham Parish, Ironsides, Md. The Rev. Joy Rose, assisted by Steve Sealy, will officiate. Interment will be immediately following the service in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Davis and Ham Cemetery Fund, c/o J. B. Ham, 316 Honeysuckle Lane, Lansing, NC 28646.