Roland Floyd Davis
August 19, 1938 ~ September 21, 2013
Born in: Oil City, Pennsylvania
Roland Floyd Davis, 75, of Franklin, passed away on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at The Caring Place following a lengthy illness. Born in Oil City, Roland was the son of the late Floyd and Irma Dille Davis. He was married August 14, 1982 to the former Sandy Karhan, who survives. Roland was a 1956 graduate of Franklin High School. He graduated from Clarion State College in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree , and obtained his Masters Degree in Special Education from Clarion State College in 1971. While at Clarion, Roland was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and the Clarion College Choir. He also completed post-graduate work at both Edinboro University and Penn State. Mr. Davis was employed by the Franklin Area School District and taught at Franklin High School from 1964 until his retirement in 1995. He served as Chairman of the Special Education Department for 16 years and served at Assistant Principal for one year. Prior to teaching at Franklin High School, Roland taught at Cranberry from 1960-1964. Roland was an active member of St. Johns Episcopal Church, where he sang in the choir, was a Senior Vestry Warden, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Lay Reader, and an Acolyte Master. He also gave tours of the churchs Tiffany Window Collection. He was a very active member in the Franklin Community, volunteered at the Barrow-Civic Theater, managed the sound and light system at the Franklin Bandstand, was Band Front Advisor for Franklin High School, and spent many hours helping the stage crew at the High School as the advisor. Mr. Davis joined the Silver Cornet Band in 1954. He served as President and a Board Member many times and earned the designation of a 50 Year Member. In 1979 Roland received the Man Of The Year Award from the Rotary Club for service above self. Roland was also a member of the Franklin Club and the Franklin Fine Arts Council, where he was named Artist of the Year in 1991. Roland was an avid model train collector and had a large Garden Railroad display in his backyard. In addition to his wife, Sandy, Roland is survived by his sister, Amy Lu Davis Rogers and her husband Donald, of Brookfield, Ohio; his niece, Carrie Vadala and her husband, Dean, and their daughter Katie Rogers, of Brookfield, Ohio; his nephew, Adam Rogers of Lady Lake, Florida; and numerous cousins. Funeral services for Roland will be held at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, September, 25, 2013 at St. Johns Episcopal Church with Rev. Holly Davis, Rector of St. Johns officiating. Interment will be in Franklin Cemetery. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to St. Johns Episicopal Church, 1145 Buffalo Street, Franklin, PA 16323, and/or the Franklin Fine Arts Council, 430 13th Street, Franklin, PA, and/or the Franklin Silver Cornet Band, 430 13th Street, Franklin, PA 16323, and/or a charity of ones choice. To send online condolences, flowers, cards, or for further information, family and friends are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.
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Sandy, we are so sorry for your great loss! Roland was so loved by his students including our daughter Mindy who learned stage-crew from him. His passing will be a great loss to our entire community! You are in our prayers for comfort for you!
R.D. will live on in the memories of the many lives he has touched~my thoughts and prayer are with you.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Mr. Davis I will never forget you or the times we had playing in the Silver Cornet Band together. May God bless you.
Sandy & Family, Roland was a great teacher… he started the radio station at Franklin High where I dj’d and was instrumental in getting me a job with WFRA in my senior year. We girls loved him in band front… he had a caring nature and will forever be one of my favorite memories from Franklin High School.
Sending sympathy your way and to your family. Roland will be missed. God bless.
Joan and Dick
Sandy,
May God bless and keep you in the coming days. Roland was a big part of my high school days. I have fond memories of watching the fire works from his house and toasting the Holidays with wassail when caroling. I also sang with him in the choir at St. John’s. He will be missed my many.
To a long-ago friend whose loss will touch so many people. My deepest condolences to the family.
Roland was a one of a kind. He will surely be missed but not forgotten. He had a positive influence on all that knew him. My condolences to the family.
Dear Sandy,
My sincere sympathy to you at this time. May Roland rest in peace.
Sandy,
My sincere condolences to you at this time.
My most sincere condolences to you in this time of loss. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
When I worked with Sean at St. Johns, I saw Roland quite often. My sympathy for your loss.
Our deepest sympathy; Roland will be missed.
Dear Sandy,
I was so sorry to learn of Roland’s death. He was a great ambassador for Franklin and he will be missed. My deepest sympathy to you.
Sincerely,
Ann McCauley
Dear Sandy,
I was so sorry to read of Roland’s passing. Franklin has lost a devoted community member. I taught with him for many years, and always saw his love for his students displayed on a daily basis. He loved to tease the kids, and they really enjoyed his presence in their lives. I was always impressed with his range of talents and interests, and am one of many who enjoyed watching his trains in your back yard. I had friends visiting from Wales a few years back. Roland graciously opened St John’s for us, so we could see the gorgeous Tiffany windows. He even hung a Welsh flag at the front of the church to welcome the travelers. I hope stories from those who knew and loved Roland will help sustain you at this sad time, Sandy. He was one in a million. God bless and hold you.
My thoughts are with his family. Back in 1976-77, my 7th English teacher recommended I go talk to Mr. Davis about being on Stage Crew. That was the start of my love for technical theatre. I went on to get my BFA in Technical Theatre from Clarion University and work professionally at the Denver Center Theatre Company for a few years, then continued my theatre activites in oither venues. Now my daughters have developed a love of theatre. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Davis, I don’t know that Iwould have found and developed such a love for being backstage.
He will be missed by so many.
Sincerely, Sylvia
Sandy
Very sorry to hear of about Roland. I thought of Roland more as a friend than the great teacher he was. From the time I meet him in 7th grade as a member of the stage crew thru my time in the Silver Cornet Band, he was always there to teach you something while being a friend at the same time. His teaching helped me become involved in the school and community in ways I would of never imagined. I will always have great memories of him.
God Bless.
Dear Amy and Family, I was so sorry to hear about your brother passing. I have attempted to contact you over the last few years and have even been in your area and tried to find you but didn’t remember the address. May the Lord Bless you and all your family. Love, Cathy
Was so sorry to hear of Roland’s passing. Jay and I were at the funeral but didn’t get a chance to talk to anyone. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very sad time.
Dear Sandy, I was so sorry to hear this news today. RD was such a wonderful man. He will be truly missed.
Mary
Roland was a fantastic person and a true inspiration to me, both personally and professionally. His tremendous sense of humor helped me through high school tribulations and taught me how to laugh with, not at, life. He convinced me to take a bold step into a new teaching profession by studying special education at Clarion State College back in 1967. His encouragement moved me through both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in that new field. After 40 years of a truly satisfying career in education, I give one more “thank you” to Roland. Now he’s enjoying his Heavenly freedom, cracking jokes, and helping spirits through those pearly gates.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Betsy and Mike Gahr and boys