Russell V. Davis, III

After a very complex, difficult and courageous battle, Russell “Russ” V. Davis, III, 74, of Elsinboro, NJ peacefully passed away at home. His devoted and loving wife, and kitties, were bedside with Andrea holding his hand as he was called Home. The last four years, Russ prayed for healing and had a relentless will to live. He was hospitalized over 40 times and endured over 40 surgeries. Russ endured all of this while living with a very rare blood cancer, Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

He was born on November 2, 1951, in Vineland, NJ. He was the son of the late Russell V. Davis, Jr. and Dorothy Spatafore Davis. He graduated from Woodstown High School in 1969 and spent some time at the University of Miami before returning home to begin a career with NJ Bell Telephone Company, now known as Verizon NJ. He retired after 30 years of service. After September 11, 2001, Russ felt the need to serve. He came out of retirement and worked for the US Department of Homeland Security as a US Customs and Border Protection Officer. He retired after 11 years of service. Russ was passionate about serving others. Through the years, Russ volunteered at Woodstown Fire & Rescue, now know as Reliance Fire Company; Salem County Fire & Ambulance Communications; Salem County Emergency Services; Alloway Township Fire Company; Lower Alloways Creek Fire & Rescue Company Dive Team; CPR Certified with American Heart Association Tri-County Chapter Incorporated; EMT Instructor with the Accredited NJ State Department of Health; EMT for Salem County Memorial Hospital; Registered EMT Ambulance team and more. He was a Member of Salem County FOP Old Oak Lodge 6; National Rifle Association; America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands. Russ supported Veterans and Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Russ loved sport cars, VW Bugs and Harley Davidson motorcycles. Russ was also an avid boater and fisherman. His affinity of the water led him to diving. He dove commercially, for pleasure and as a volunteer. He held a USCG Master Captain’s License with an Assistance Towing Endorsement He loved animals and was a diehard Eagles, Phillies and NASCAR fan. Russ loved nature and had a very green thumb. You could find him doting on his flowers, bushes and trees. He loved to rototill a garden and enjoyed eating the fruits of his labor. He had a free stand for sharing with neighbors. He had an affinity with hummingbirds. He owned and operated several TowBoatUS boats. He kept his primary boat at Barber’s Basin, Inc, in Salem, NJ, where he first met his wife to be, 30 plus years ago. God intersected their paths again in 2019 for reasons only He knew, which were later revealed. They married on May 21, 2022, on the beach in front of their home. Russell is survived by his devoted and loving wife, personal Registered Nurse, patient advocate and caregiver, the former, Andrea Barber, affectionately known as his Butterfly; his sister, Lois A. Layman (Joe) of Smyrna, DE his brother, Robert J. Davis (Mary Lou Hagen-Davis) of Dover, DE; sister, Mary B. DeGraaf (Wayne) of Tavernier, FL; uncle, Donald Spatafore of Mansfield, PA; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services will be Friday, April 3rd, at his church, Shiloh Seventh Day Baptist Church, 116 East Ave, Shiloh, NJ, 08053 beginning at 11am.  Visitation will be held from 10am-11am. Pastor Tyler Chroniger will perform the funeral service. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Family and friends are then invited to lunch in the church Fellowship Hall. Woodside Funeral Home will provide service under the direction of Ted Woodside. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to his church in memory of Russ.

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