Lawrence R. Davis | Teacher and coach, 90

Lawrence R. Davis, 90, formerly of Narberth, who taught history at Lower Merion High School for 24 years and coached varsity basketball for a decade, died Sunday, Sept. 2, of natural causes at his home in Bedford, Pa.

Mr. Davis graduated in 1939 from Lower Merion High School, where he was captain and starting guard for the school's basketball team.

His studies at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania were interrupted by World War II.

Mr. Davis entered the Marine Corps in 1943 and was overseas for two years, serving in the Okinawa, Shima, and Ryukyu island campaigns.

He was discharged in 1946 and returned home to Narberth, but was recalled by the Marines in 1951 for the Korean War and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Wherever he was, Mr. Davis played basketball, lettering at both Penn and Cornell, where he studied while in the service.

In 1960, he was hired as a history and social studies teacher at Lower Merion High, where he would stay until his retirement in 1984. Mr. Davis was head basketball coach from 1960 to 1970, guiding the school to its first-ever Central League title in the 1967-68 season.

Mr. Davis is survived by his sister, Jane Davis Odell, of West Chester; a brother, Thomas Davis, of Everett, Pa.; and four nieces and two nephews.

A memorial service, with full military honors conducted by the local Marine Corps division, will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, at the Chapel of Peace, Bringhurst Funeral Home and Turner Funeral Home at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, 215 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd.