William “Bill” J. Davenport, 68, of Wilton Manors, FL and formerly of Rossville, passed away September 18, 2024, surrounded by friends and family in Kindred Hospital, Fort Lauderdale FL.
Born July 22, 1956, Bill was the son of Paul W. and Portia A. (Mott) Davenport. Following graduation from Rossville HS in 1974, Bill continued his education by earning a BS in telecommunication education and music from Ball State in 1978.
After graduating from college, Bill worked at Purdue National Bank, Block’s department store, and was a substitute teacher at Lafayette Jeff HS. In 1980, he began his career at the U.S. Postal Service in Kokomo, moving to Vero Beach, FL, and completing his 34 year career at the New Augusta branch in Indianapolis in 2014.
Bill was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa at Ball State University, a founding member of the first HIV support group at the Damien Center in Indianapolis in 1988, an organist for the Rossville United Methodist Church and Rossville Church of the Brethren through his high school and college years, and attended the United Church of Christ of Fort Lauderdale, FL. He always enjoyed playing music, piano and collecting vinyl records, was a lover of trivia, current events, and traveling, and because of his grandfather’s being a 1914 Purdue grad, he was an avid lover of Purdue sports his entire life.
Bill is survived by a sister, Joyce Casad of Laurel, DE; a brother, Cliff Davenport of Rossville; nieces, Denise Casad of Felton, DE, April (Jayson) Fitzgerald of Laurel, DE, Kelli (Robert) Lucas and Kara (Jon Chaney) Haynes, both of Delphi; great-niece, Olivia (James) Melroy of Delphi, great-nephews, Chris (Diane) Lott and Zachary (Jordan) Lott , both of Harrington, DE, Robert K. (Lindsey) Lucas of Michigantown, Trenton (Maddie) Haynes of Lafayette and Tanner (Caiah) Haynes of Attica; great-great-nieces, Addy Lott of Harrington, DE and Miley Lucas of Michigantown; and great-great-nephews, Graham Lucas and Waylon Lucas, both of Michigantown and expecting Baby Haynes in March
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be Monday, September 30, 2024, from 11am until the start of the funeral service at 1pm at Day & Genda Funeral Home ~ Bodine Chapel in Rossville. Bill’s best friend, Jeff Scott, will be officiating. Burial will follow in Rossville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s honor to the United Church of Christ of Fort Lauderdale, 2501 NE 30th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306.Messages to the family may be left at www.dayandgenda.com.