Teddy Paul Davies, a longtime Oxford resident and as admirable a person as there ever was, passed away on June 14, at the Veterans’ Home, a victim of lung cancer. He was 89.  He had been in palliative care since March and his passing was quiet.
He is survived by his wife Bette, the love of his life, and his loving daughter Thedia. He is also mourned by Rhys, his grandson, and Ohara, his granddaughter, who along with Matt Williams are the parents of his 2 year old great-grandson, named after Teddy.  He was pre-deceased by Ted and Bette’s son Jeff and his sister Betty Carkuff. Her children, Ed (Butch), Zoeanna and Cassandra have provided much love and support during Ted’s illness.
Ted was also loved by Thedia’s first husband, Nick and current husband P.J.
For 39 years until the end of 2016, Ted operated the Suburban Sales used car dealership housed in the barn across the street from their beloved home.  He liked the business because he considered himself an honest broker helping people acquire solid, affordable transportation--mostly Subarus-- and because he got to know those people and share stories with them. Before going into business, Ted had a successful career and rose to management at the old GLA plant.
Ted was non-judgmental and encouraging, positive and sensible. He liked a good laugh.
He loved people, and he and Bette loved cats and dogs, especially German Shepherds. He would give his dogs a daily ride around town, laughing at them as they barked down the backroads, and then later play-wrestle with them in the family living room.
Ted was always on the go, always mending or tending to something, and he always got the job done just the way he wanted.  Even when he was using an oxygen tank last Christmas, he plowed snow. No doubt his active lifestyle contributed mightily to his long life.
But a lifetime of smoking cigarettes and inhaling asbestos on cargo ships when he served on the dangerous seas for the U.S Merchant Marines during World War II, eventually took their toll.
He joined the service when he was just 16, partly because of his patriotism, and partly out of kindness: Ted’s parents died when he was just a child and he was raised by relatives in Sidney who were quite young themselves. Getting out on his own, he thought, lifted a burden for them. Thedia speculated he was such a doting dad and husband because he was trying to create the family life as he imagined it would have been for him.
Ted and Bette have always been the sharpest couple around, sweethearts of the Southern Tier since they were 13. They celebrated their 68th anniversary on June 4.
They traveled to many places around the world. Back home Ted was a Little League coach and a Boy Scout troop leader and for a while, a member of Oxford’s planning board. For years both of them managed Oxford’s Warn Ten- Broeck Cemetery.
Ted entered the New York State Veterans’ Home in Oxford in March and received excellent, compassionate and friendly care. He wanted no funeral service, or even these kind words at his passing.  But while this notice is all about him it is a place for the family to express to all who knew him how much he cared for all of you. He was ready to go, but he had a wonderful time while he was here.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Behe Funeral Home Inc. 21 Main Street, Oxford, NY 13830. Friends and family may share their memories and condolences by visiting www.behefuneralhome.com.
There will be no funeral services. A celebration of his life will be held later. Friends may contribute in his name, or their own, to the Chenango SPCA.