Thomas Linville Davis

Surrounded by his loving family, Thomas Linville Davis went to be with His Lord and Savior on January 13, 2023, at the age of 82 when his heart, which he had given so much love to so many people, couldn’t give anymore.  After a long, courageous battle with cancer, the Davis Family can rejoice that he is no longer suffering and is cancer free. Tom was born August 24, 1940, in Goldsboro, North Carolina, to the late Willie T. and Myrtis M. Davis.  After graduating from Goldsboro High School, he attended N. C. State University and graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering (Aero Option) in 1962. He then went to work for North American Aviation in Aerospace Engineering and attended the University of Southern California graduating with a MS in Aerospace Engineering in 1965. Being a tinkerer on things mechanical from early childhood, Tom spent 40 years working on jobs he really loved, including the Apollo Moon Landing Project from 1965 to 1973 with the Boeing Company. After the Apollo Project ended, he went to work for Carolina Power and Light Company and worked on research for electric power generation and customer utilization. He became a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of NC in 1977 and a member of the Electric Power Research Institute until his retirement from CP&L in 1998. While working for CP&L, he filed twelve patents, and they are in the U. S. Patent Office under his name. These patents are related to new technology using thermal energy storage to increase peaking gas turbine output during the hot summer peaks and reducing customer electric demand during the summer peaks. After retiring from CP&L, he started his own engineering consulting firm, Thomas L. Davis, PEPC, and did consulting work in power generation for various firms in North Carolina until he retired permanently in 2002. Tom was a good man with a kind heart and gentle spirit who cherished his family and was a loyal and caring friend to many, especially his long-term friends who were a constant source of joy and inspiration, never wavering in their support and camaraderie during his final days when he needed it most. He exhibited a deep and abiding faith in Christ and routinely exemplified acts of love, kindness, compassion, service, encouragement, and a strong work ethic to others. His positive outlook on life, infectious smile, good nature, and helpful spirit endeared him to everyone. Tom was a longtime member of New Hope Baptist Church in Raleigh where he served on and chaired numerous committees and was ordained as a deacon.  His favorite pastimes were spending time with family and friends, hunting, and early morning walks at North Myrtle Beach collecting sharks’ teeth and fossils along the shore line. 

He is survived by the loves of his life:  his devoted wife, Deborah Wall Davis; mother-in-law, Pearl Daniels Wall; three daughters: Alison Hamilton (Andrew), Diana Bronstein (Eric), and Meredith Jarrett (Richard); six grandchildren: Ashlynn Hamilton, Alexis Hamilton, Abigail Bronstein, Hailey Jarrett, Hayden Jarrett, and Hudson Jarrett; sister Annette Mason (Bill); niece Suzanne Sanders (Brent), and nephews Allen Mason (Karen) and Mike Mason (Tanoth) and their families.   

The Davis family will forever be thankful and grateful to our dear family and friends who gave tirelessly of their time and resources to encourage and support us throughout this journey. We would also like to express a special word of thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at Rex Cancer Center and Transitions LifeCare.

A Celebration of Tom’s life will be held at New Hope Baptist Church at 4301 Louisburg Road, Raleigh, NC on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 2:00 pm.

Family visitation will be held from 12:15 to 1:45 pm in the church parlor.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to New Hope Baptist Church, 4301 Louisburg Road, Raleigh, NC 27604, or Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 in memory of Tom.                             

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