Robert ‘Bob’ Davenport, 92, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully on Oct. 10, 2015 at Palm Garden Rehabilitation Facility in Vero Beach.
He is survived by his loving daughter Laura, son-in-law John Holian, and granddaughter Dana Curtin, all of Salem, Mass., as well as his special friend and dance partner Joan Scott of Vero Beach.
Born in Dunellen, N.J., on April 20, 1923, Davenport graduated from Bound Brook High School and attended Rensslaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., before enlisting in the Armed Forces during WWII. He served in the US Army Air Corps as a Staff Sargeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-24 “Liberator” bomber, with operational service from April 1944 to May 1945. He flew 35 combat missions over Nazi Germany and occupied Europe as aircrew on “Generator Jenny” while assigned to the 785th Bomber Squadron, 466th Combat Group, 8th Air Force.
Upon his return from the war, Davenport worked for the John’s Manville Corporation based in Finderne, N.J. as a Design Engineer before transferring to their Denver, Colo. headquarters in 1972. He continued in this capacity before retiring and relocating to Vero Beach in 1982.
After enjoying various social activities including active participation in the Riverside Theater, he embarked on a most challenging and rewarding project, a life-long dream. He began building a Burt Rutan designed “Long-EZ” experimental category aircraft. It took four years. Davenport also designed, engineered and built the “Davenport Nose” for the “Long-EZ” as well as the “Davenport Shimmy Damper” for the nose gear strut, thereby resolving a design shortcoming in the original plan.
He flew his plane for 12 years covering many parts of the country. “Babe,” as the plane was named, was considered to be one of the top 10 receiving world-wide recognition.
Davenport will always be remembered for his love of family, friends, aviation, dancing and life.
A memorial will be held at Central Assembly of God, 6767 20th St., Vero Beach on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. to be followed by a repast at C.J. Cannon’s.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
