In 1988, The Centennial History of Hurricane, WV was published to commemorate the town’s 100th anniversary. In 1994, the Centennial Committee published a follow up book which included family histories which were not submitted in time for the 1988 Centennial History. This week’s selection is the 6th history from The Centennial History of Hurricane WV Continued — 1994.

ooo

THE DAVIS FAMILY
Submitted by Nelma Dunaway

Randall Clay (Benny) Davis was born about 1911. I say “about” because there was no public record of his birth. A family friend took him in and cared for him after his mother died and “assumed” his age.

Except for short periods of time, he lived in, or near, Hurricane all his life (until he died February, 1983). One of these times was when he served in the Navy during World War Il.

Benny married Ruby Wechselberger on December 7, 1929. From this union, seven children were born: Nelma (Bunny) Dunaway, Culloden, West Virginia; Frank, Yorba Linda, California; Julia (Judy) Foster, Culloden, West Virginia (owner of Reflections of Judy in Hurricane); Lewis, Huntington, West Virginia (owner of Davis Investigations); Janet Spradling Harrisonburg, Virginia (owner of Finishing Touches); Victoria Richards, Sandy, Utah; Sarah (Becky) White, Culloden, West Virginia (owner of Sarah Bridal Elegance).

In 1939, Benny and Ruby were among the original members of the Nazarene Church in Hurricane. They spent all but their very young lives, serving God in every way they could. Benny was a lay minister and Sunday School teacher, also he and Ruby served in various offices of the church and Sunday School.

Each of their seven children, twenty-five grandchildren, and twenty grandchildren already, or will some day, realize what a precious gift these two people have given their family and community by the honest, hardworking, devoted lives they have led.

After Benny died, Ruby sold their home on Fifth Street and moved to her mother’s homeplace in Culloden, West Virginia, where she still resides.