Betty Davis

Betty Wehner Davis, age 94, passed away to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, January 31, 2025. 

A life-long resident of Alliance, Ohio, she was born into a musical family on June 24, 1930 to Charles K. Wehner and Dessie M. (Sproul) Wehner. Her father was an excellent pianist and started her on piano. She began violin in elementary school and moved to viola when she played in the Canton Junior Symphony. At 15, she became the organist for the Evangelical United Brethren Church which later became The Vine United Methodist Church. She held that position for 78 years until two weeks prior to her death. Academically, she was valedictorian of the 1948 class of Alliance High School and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mt. Union College in 1965 with “Bachelor of Music Education” and “Bachelor of Music (major – organ; minor – piano)” degrees. Her time at Mt. Union, starting in 1948, was interrupted in 1949 when the love of her life, William (Bill) Davis, married her and they began a family. Before returning to Mt. Union, she taught piano to many students in Alliance. 

After graduating from Mt. Union, she began a 25 year career teaching music in the Marlington School District. During that time she earned her Master of Education degree from Ashland College. While at Marlington, along with her music teaching responsibilities, she was responsible for numerous annual theatrical productions and choral groups. She also was a director of the Ohio Honors Chorale for a number of years, taking that group of students, from all over Ohio, throughout Europe to perform. She loved her Marlington students and they loved her. In 1999, at a celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, a large contingent of former Marlington choral students from over her years surprised her with a performance that brought tears to her eyes (and many hugs!). She couldn’t go anywhere in Alliance without someone yelling out … Hi Mrs. Davis! 

Advancing music in Alliance was a passion. Upon retirement in 1990 and through 2012, she was President of the Alliance Community Concert Association (ACCA), an organization that brought high quality musical entertainment to Alliance multiple times each year. October 23, 2011 was named “Betty Davis Day” by then Alliance Mayor Toni Middleton in acknowledgement of 22 years with ACCA and for her love of music and spirit of community service. Retirement also gave her the opportunity to travel throughout the world, which she enjoyed immensely with her husband Bill. She also was able to attend more games of her beloved Cleveland Indians. Her first game was in 1948 when they won the World Series. Her honeymoon the next year included a visit to Detroit for an Indians game. Many other games were attended over the years until a trip last year on the Alliance Senior Citizens Center bus. She loved spending time with her ever growing family and also with friends. She was especially blessed with being part of “The Gang” (aka – The Breakfast Club), a group of couples who were lifelong friends. She was a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, the American Guild of Organists, Alliance Music Study Club and a number of other music organizations. She was honored with numerous awards for her musical efforts. 

Survivors include son, Bruce Alan (Susan) Davis of Allendale, NJ; daughters Joan Louise Norman of Alliance and Mary Jane (Michael) Monfort of Hudson, OH; son-in-law, G. Richard Noel of Vienna, WV; grandchildren Meredith (Marie Dripchak) Davis, Emily (Eric) Davis Blumenstyk, Margo (Aaron) Noel Gardner, Sarah (Steven Cuttler) Noel, Nicole (Selwyn) Norman Huhn, Leanna Norman, Michael, Jennifer, and Stephen Monfort, and “adopted” grandson Michael Ball; great-grandchildren Gabrielle, Noah, Clara, Henry, Noel, Abigail, Quinn, Tori, and Zoe. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; daughter, Karen Sue Noel; son-in-law, Dana Norman; sister, Fola (Madge) Aebi; and brothers, Ralph, Earl, Irvin (PeeWee), Edmon (Carl), Clarence (Woody) and Foster. 

The family will receive friends Friday, February 7th from 5-7PM at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Saturday, February 8th at Noon at The Vine United Methodist Church, 1544 W. Vine St, in Alliance with visitation starting at 11AM. Rev. Jeff Coggins will be officiating. 

Interment will be at Alliance City Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice of Greater Youngstown, 6715 Tippecanoe Rd., Bldg E Suite 201, Canfield, OH 44406 or Boys Town, 14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010