Robert E. Davis, 88, of Taylorville passed away January 3, 2012 at 10:53 pm at Taylorville Memorial Hospital in Taylorville.  He was born December 23, 1923 in Washington, Iowa, the son of James Henry and Blanche Alma (Knox) Davis.  He married Ellen L. Brown in June, 1950 in Taylorville.  He was a retired college professor at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.  He was affiliated with the First United Methodist Church, taught High School from 1949 to 1956 in Taylorville and taught at Arizona State University from 1959 to 1989 retiring and moving back to Taylorville.  He was a member of the National Communication Association and Arizona State University Retirees Association. 

He is survived by his wife Ellen L. Davis; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Charles (Vivian) Brown of Rushville, Mildred (Bob) Garwood of Stonington, Milford Brown, Marilyn (Norman) Dixon, and Virgil Greffe all of Taylorville; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law Martha Greffe. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 11:00 am in Sutton Memorial Home, Taylorville with Pastor Becky Lembke officiating.  Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Taylorville.  Visitation will be held Saturday, January 7, 2012 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am at Sutton Memorial Home in Taylorville. 

Arrangements by Sutton Memorial Homes, LTD, Taylorville.  Sign on-line guestbook at www.suttonmemorialhome.com.  Memorials may be made to Robert E. Davis Scholarship Fund for a Taylorville High School graduate.