Roll W. Davis Obituary (1945 - 2014)

Roll W. Davis, 69, died November 24 at The Alfond Center for Health in Augusta, the result of Congestive Heart Failure, adult onset Diabetes, and Pneumonia. Born March 24, 1945, in East Orange, NJ, he was the first child of Roll W. and Margaret Adelphia Furbush Davis. Roll attended elementary schools in several New Jersey towns, was graduated from Ellsworth, ME, High School with the class of 1963, and received both Bachelor and Master's degrees from Kansas State College, Pittsburg. In 1966 he married Linda K. Davis of Ft. Scott, KS. His teaching career began at Pratt, KS, Jr. College where he taught English Composition and literature. He was thrilled to return to Maine when he was hired to teach English at Waterville Senior High School. He continued there for thirty years, retiring in June, 2000. Along with teachers from other disciplines at WHS, Roll was instrumental in creating a humanities program through the National Humanities Faculty. He went on to teach ancient and medieval history and humanities which he team taught with Mr. Tim Dial. Always he felt fortunate to have a job he loved. Another love was drama. He acted in many plays during his high school and college years. When he met fellow faculty member Rene Plante, it was instant collaberation. The first production was Li'l Abner where many teachers, including principal Stan Trask, starred in bit parts. The Davis Plante team went on to produce two major shows a year with each production featuring more students and becoming more sensational than the one before. From the time he was a child movies appealed to him. He knew the names of every actor in hundreds of movies as well as the technical details. He treated his other interest, reading, as a vital part of his job in addition to a satisfying way to spend time. Each year he recorded in notebooks every book he read, often hundreds. Roll was predeceased by his parents and brother Bruce L. Davis. He is survived by his wife, Linda Davis Davis of Waterville; son Matthew B. Davis of Grand Marais, MI; a brother, Scott Davis and wife Helen of Sidney; one aunt, Jean Furbush Adams of Otis, ME; nieces Elizabeth and Catherine Davis of the Boston area, and Jennifer Foster, her husband, Scott, and children Abigail, Annaliese, and Cameron; plus several cousins. A memorial service will be at 2:30 P.M. Wednesday, December 3, at the Universalist Unitarian Church, 69 Silver St. Waterville with Rev. Margaret Anzalone officiating. Burial will be private at a later date. Roll asked that People wishing to remember him in some way to please send donations either to Waterville Public Library or to Waterville's Humane Society. An on-line register book may be signed and condolences expressed at www.gallantfh.com.