Joseph Davis

 

Joseph Steven (Steve) Davis passed away June 7, 2021, at Haven Hospice in Gainesville, Florida. He had lived with dementia for several years and deteriorated rapidly in the last months. He was born in Philadelphia and moved with his parents to Whitewood, South Dakota. He graduated high school in Churdan, Iowa, and received a B.A. in education from The State University of Iowa. Inducted into the army as a Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps during the Korean War, he was stationed in Salzburg, Austria. Returning to Iowa City he received a Masters Degree in science education and a Ph.D in botany. He taught at Southern Illinois University in East St. Louis, Illinois, and the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. His hobbies were ham radio and fishing. In early 1970s he agreed to help a solar salt company improve solar salt production. Using the knowledge he gained in Long Island, Bahamas, he was invited to help other solar salt companies in Mexico, Yucatan, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Bonaire, Anguilla, Australia, Republic of South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Botswana, Djibouti, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Sicily,  India, China, and Utah. He pioneered biological management of solar salt ponds to produce high quality and quantity of sodium chloride, often called Sea Salt. He is survived by his wife Sandra and sons Steven of Canton, Georgia, and Richard of New York City.  

 

 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Crevasse's Simple Cremation, Gainesville, Florida. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.crevassesimplecremation.com