DAVENPORT

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Thursday, July 20, 2006 at 04:47:08 :

Marin Independent Journal
Wednesday, April 10, 2002

Clifton Eugene Davenport, Jr.

April 13, 1916 - March 15, 2002 Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Cliff's early school years and college years were marked by leadership roles and high academic achievements. He received congressional appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, but due to less than 20/20 vision he was rejected. His family lived on welfare after the stock market crash of 1929, and against all odds he was able to attend college by winning an academic scholarship to Wesleyan University. He worked to support himself and participated in many extracurricular activities, including election to the presidency of the student body. In 1939 he began his 40 years of service with the Social Security Administration. This was interrupted only by his naval appointment during WWII. Mr. Davenport has been a resident of Mill Valley since 1966, and is known for his generosity of spirit, kind heartedness, and willingness to be of service to many charitable and community oriented organizations including the Friends of the Mill Valley Public Library, Muir Woods Park Improvement Association, and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin. He is predeceased by his first wife, Betty Jean Davenport and second wife, Rosemary Hayes Davenport and daughter Dorothy Davenport. He leaves a son, Robert Eugene Davenport of Norfolk, Virginia and daughter Christine Davenport of Mill Valley and many loving grandchildren and friends. We will miss seeing him ride up Panoramic Highway every morning! A Memorial Service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin at 6 PM on 13 April 2002. Memorial donations may be made to the Mill Valley Public Library or Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin Social Concerns Committee in lieu of flowers.