Bruce R. Davis

Bruce E. Davis, age 85 of West Chester, formerly of Lower Macungie Township, passed away on March 16, 2017.

He was married to Barbara (nee Schrader).  Bruce was preceded in death by his daughter, Leslie.  He is also survived by his children Lori (Tim) McLaughlin, Lisa Harris, and Linda (Russ) Kocher, his stepchildren Robin (Michael) Zacherl and Stephen (Elizabeth) Richard, grandchild Zachary Harris, step grandchildren Emily Zacherl, Sarah and Matthew Richard, his sister May Joanne Colbert of Fairmont, West Virginia, and nieces and nephews.

Born in Fairmont, West Virginia, Bruce graduated from West Virginia University in 1953 with a B.S. and in 1959 with a J.D.  He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War with the rank of Captain.  After the war he attended the University of Virginia Law School for Post Graduate Studies.  He attended an Executive Program at Harvard Business School in 1974.

After law school, Bruce worked in the Office of the Secretary of the Army at the Pentagon from 1959-1962.  He moved to Chicago to work as an associate in the firm of Chadwell, Keck, Kaiser and McLaren.  After working in Chicago for two years, he moved to the Lehigh Valley to become an officer with Bethlehem Steel Corporation. 

In 1964, as attorney for the sales department at Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Bruce began his involvement with the Route 33 extension.  The first leg of Route 33 between Interstate 80 and Route 22 opened in 1969.  Even then, Valley leaders planned the link between Route 22 and Interstate 78. This goal was achieved in 2002 because Bruce supported the project and saw it through to the end.

In 1985 Bruce left Bethlehem Steel to join the firm Maloney, Danyi, Davis and Danyi in Bethlehem. He served as a member and Chairman of the Northampton County Industrial Development Authority.  From 1996 to 2012, Bruce hosted a weekly radio program, “The Lehigh Valley Means Business,” on Bethlehem radio station WGPA 1100.  He proudly served as counselor to non-union Bethlehem Steel retirees through the Retired Employees' Benefits Coalition (REBCO) to preserve and maximize their benefits.

Bruce was involved with the United Way, St. Luke’s Hospital-Allentown, Senior Citizens of Bethlehem, Chairman of the Route 33 Coalition, Northampton Community College Foundation, Secretary of Saucon Valley Country Club (SVCC), and was the General Chairman of the 1992 and 2002 U.S. Golf Association Senior Open at SVCC.  Bruce loved the game of golf, West Virginia football, and reading numerous newspapers each day.  His family described him as always dignified, always engaging, and having a gift for spontaneous humor.  He was devoted to family, friends, and colleagues.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Memorial Service, 11:00 A.M.,  April 8, 2017, the William Penn Room at Barclay Friends, 700 N. Franklin Street, West Chester, PA.  In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in his name to Barclay Friends.