Katherine "Kay" Davis Whitbeck

Katherine “Kay” Huckleberry Davis Whitbeck passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of Monday, October 20, 2025, at the Cribbs facility at Wesbury United Methodist Community in Meadville, Pa.

Kay was born in Olympia, Washington on August 16th 1942 to Sargent Gover Cleveland Huckleberry (1918-1978) and First Lieutenant Irene Marie Postello (1917-1948). Her paternal grandparents were Agustus Harold Huckleberry (1894-1965 and Leona Cokley (1897 to 1919) of Kentucky and Indiana. Her maternal grandparents were Adam Jacob Postello (1889-1976) and Katherine Stankiewicz (1888-1959) of Poland and Sioux City, Iowa.

Her second husband, Robert Whitbeck (1941-2016), preceded her in death. His daughters Laura Whitbeck of Rochester and Susan Whitbeck of Bradford, Pa survive.

She is survived by her four children:

1. Lieutenant Colonel Clifford R Davis, Jr. (USAR, Retired) and his wife Ellen (Berry) of Mannsville, NY and daughter, Elizabeth (Riley) Keenan and their sons, Patrick and Logan Keenan of Watertown, NY.

2. William T Davis of Mill Village, Pa. and his children: Andrew Davis (Aimee Atilano) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Kristin Davis and her fiancé Dan Petrie of Pittsburgh, PA, Tyler Davis of Mill Village, and James Davis of Chicago.

3. Holly (Scott) Tucci of Edinboro, PA

4. Rebecca (Jeff) Humes of Saegertown, PA and their son, Matthew (Tiandra Snyder) of Northeast, PA and their daughter, Lainey Humes.

She is survived by her former husband, C Ronald Davis of Venango, PA. Her brother James (Linda) Huckelberry of Frederick, MD and half siblings Agustus “Gus” Huckleberry and Marcia Rae (Mayer) Worth of San Antonio, TX. Kay also had a multitude of nieces and nephews.

Kay grew up in a series of foster homes and was in an orphanage in her earliest years. She ended up as a teenager in Cambridge Springs, PA where she cared for the children of her foster parents in exchange for room and board and school clothes.

She graduated from Cambridge Springs High School in 1960. Kay married C. Ronald Davis of Venango in 1960. Kay started and operated a successful ceramic business. She gave lessons and her ceramics were sold in many local and regional businesses. She also ran the family strawberry and strawberry plant business and assisted with the family beef operation. She served on the Cambridge Springs-Venango Volunteer Ambulance Service (CAVAS) for many years and later served as its president. She also was an EMT and paramedic.

Kay and C Ronald “Ron” Davis divorced in 1980. She later married Robert Whitbeck and moved to East Liverpool, Ohio, where she started in building and ground maintenance and worked her way up to be a Nuclear Power Plant Operator. Kay was featured in local media various times for her work collecting money and buying Christmas presents and essentials for local needy children. Additionally, she sponsored children across the globe. She was an admirable person of many talents. She had an ability to transform unlikely flower garden spots into picture perfect masterpieces. Kay was also a superb organizer and was skilled at staging neighborhood picnics and family events. Always adventurous, Kay and Bob traveled across the USA. She enjoyed traveling with her kids and grandkids. In her later years, much time was spent organizing various charitable and social various events at Wesbury prior to her decline. She will be fondly remembered for her friendly outgoing nature, grit, work ethic, generosity, community spirit, occasional “lectures”, love, innate intelligence, and over all kindness to others.

Visitation is from 9 AM - 12 PM on Monday, November 10, 2025, at STEPHEN P. MIZNER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 404 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE, where Funeral Services will follow at 12 PM, with Sam Marchetta, Chaplain of Wesbury, officiating.

Kay will be laid to rest in Venango Cemetery.

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