More detail on this person: Phillip Edward Daves, a decorated career Army Aviator, award winning fine arts painter, teacher, loving husband, Dad, Grandfather, and great Grandfather, passed in peace from vascular dementia November 28, 2018, at home with his wife, and son Brian, by his side. Phillip was born June 27, 1933 in Elk City, Oklahoma to Thelma and Horace Daves. Phil, as he was known to friends, graduated from Oklahoma Military Academy High School and Junior College. He finished his degree at Oklahoma A&M and was commissioned into the Regular Army as Second Lieutenant in Ft. Benning, GA where he completed Ranger training. During a twenty year career he flew over 2,000 hours in almost every aircraft in the Army inventory. Helicopters where a passion and his skill as aviator and artist allowed him to be part of an experimental aviation unit, the 8305th Aerial Combat and Reconnaissance (ACR), which developed the concept of attack helicopters. He was also an advisor for the 107th ACR. As a member of the Fort Rucker Helicopter demonstration team, he flew demonstrations for President Kennedy, as well as the War Games Division, Combat Developments Section, HQ, U.S. Continental Army Command, helping the Army prove concept that arming helicopters was possible. He went to Vietnam as part of the First Calvary Division from July 1966 to August 1967, his unit was the 227th Aviation Battalion D company (Guns). He serviced with distinction as Major in staff command role and flew 135 combat hours as an armed escort to troop and Medivac helicopters. After Vietnam, Phil attended and taught at the Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. While stationed in Kansas, he was active in the Hunt Club and also attended art classes in Kansas City, Missouri. After retiring, Phil began his second career as a fine arts painter. The family first settled in Texas where he earned his masters in fine art at the University of Texas - Dallas. Later, Phil and Cece, with their youngest daughter, Linda, moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where he eventually found his niche. Phil pursued his passion for art for the rest of his life, residing in Santa Fe for 20 years, where he had a studio/gallery on Canyon Road. Phil was a multi award winning artist including a Gold Medal from Allied Artist of America, and having his coin design, representing the State of Kansas, win first prize in the Franklin Mint Bicentennial Medal Design Competition. Phil enjoyed his artistic life for many years, finally settling with a private studio where he could paint in peace and help his wife with various real estate projects while dividing their time between Tucson, Arizona and Palm Desert, California. Phil is survived by his wife of 63 years, Cecelia (Berry) Daves, four children: Mark (Susan), Colleen (Kenneth), Brian, and Linda (Rand). He also leaves behind five grandchildren: ReAnn, Matthew, Cori, DeVeaux, and Echo, and one great grandchild: Jamison. He was preceded in death by his sister Jane and her husband Bill. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to any one of the following: Southern Poverty Law Center, National Military Family Association, or any local pet shelter or rescue group.
This information was last updated 12/09/2018
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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