William Eugene Davenport

William Eugene Davenport, 81, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, in Lampasas, Texas. Funeral Service: 12:00 p.m. Monday, September 21, 2020, at Sawyer-George Funeral Home in Corpus Christi, TX, with a visitation an hour prior from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Interment, will follow at Memory Gardens in Corpus Christi. Willie was born on October 4, 1938, in Freeport, Texas to Ernest Edward and Edna Hart Davenport. He grew up in the Freeport, Texas area and graduated from Brazosport High School in Freeport, in 1957. After high school, he attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas where he received a teaching degree. While at Sam Houston he played baseball for the Bearkat Baseball Team. On September 4, 1958, he married the love of his life, his high school sweetheart, Daphne Mae Gasch in Oyster Creek, Texas. Daphne also graduated from Sam Houston State University and joined Willie in the Teaching/Coaching profession. Willie had a 30 plus year career teaching and coaching in Texas and Washington State. Willie taught biology and coached both girls and boys athletics. He started the Robstown High School Girls Athletic program from scratch and transitioned his girls' basketball team from 6 on 6 to 5 on 5 basketball. He was blessed with some tremendous athletes in Robstown High School, highlighted with coaching the fastest girl in South Texas. He enjoyed all sports, but his love was definitely baseball. He coached baseball locally at Calallen High School, Robstown High School, and Odem High School. His baseball career culminated with winning the 1984 3A State Baseball Championship with his might scrapping Odem Owls. Willie loved coaching youth sports and volunteered his time and energy at Oil Belt Little League where he served on the Board of Directors and coached both baseball and girls fastpitch softball, taking his girl's all-star team to the state finals. Willie was preceded in death by his wives, Daphne and Karen Davenport, and his parents, Ernest and Edna Davenport. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations are made to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of your choice. Willie is survived by his brother, Almond L. Davenport (Joyce) of Jones Creek, Texas; daughter, Patricia Symons (Dennis) of Conyers, Georgia; son, COL (Ret) William E. Davenport II (Kati) of Kempner, Texas; grandchildren, Alissa Davis (Kelley), Taylor Davenport, Megan Symons, Casey Symons, Brianna Symons, Declan Davenport, Shelby Symons, Daphne Davenport; great-grandchildren, Keegan and Kason Davis; he is also survived by his cherished cousin Wilma Sanchez and his former spouse Brenda Hill. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff of Silver Creek Assisted Living in Lampasas, Texas, and Sneed Funeral Chapel. "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13