Cynthia Adele Davis
Cynthia Adele Davis of Santa Paula, California died on January 10, 2013 after suffering an unexpected and severe stroke. She peacefully passed away while closely surrounded by her family at Santa Barbara’s Cottage Hospital. Cynthia was born on June 6, 1935 in Boulder, Colorado. She spent her childhood in Arcadia, California with her father, William Clinton Billig, and mother, Rhea Dawn Billig, and her two brothers. She moved to Santa Barbara, California in 1953 to attend UCSB.
Cynthia married her first husband, William Thomas, while at UCSB and then graduated with a BA in Home Economics and highest honors. Cynthia and Bill started their family on a small farm in Santa Barbara. Her sons, Lindon and Matthew Thomas, grew up wearing clothes Cynthia sewed for them, ate food she grew for them and played with the many animals she loved. She taught the value of exercise by example, backpacking her way to the top of Half Dome and Mt. Whitney (at age 50).
Cynthia was passionate about art, crafts and music, and found great joy in sharing her love through teaching. Her career included over 25 years as a sewing instructor for Santa Barbara Adult Education. In 1990 Cynthia moved to Santa Paula with her second husband, Fred Davis, and in 1995 they opened her dream store, the Fabric Depot, where, for over 10 years, she sold fabric and sewing machines and taught craft classes. Cynthia also arranged beautiful flower bouquets for friends, weddings and church services.
Throughout her life Cynthia spent time in her gardens full of flowers and vegetables, practiced ballet and yoga, and painted. One of her greatest loves was sharing her paintings. She perfected her watercolor technique with portrayals of gardens, flowers, houses, and landscapes. In retirement Cynthia learned to golf and even pilot planes with Fred. Cynthia was very spiritual and a dedicated church member, at both Christ the King Episcopal Church of Santa Barbara and St. Paul’s Church in Santa Paula. For many years she visited friends, new and old, who lived alone or in nursing homes.
Cynthia was a beautiful, loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Cynthia is survived by her beloved husband Fred Davis, sons Lindon (Karen) Thomas and Matthew (Beth) Thomas, grandchildren Cole, Clay and Melanie Thomas, brother John (Yoshie) Billig, sister-in-law Susan Billig, brother-in-law Delano (Phyllis) Davis, and step-daughters Heather (Steven) Brooks and Deirdre Davis. Cynthia was preceded in death by her brother James Billig.
A celebration of Cynthia’s inspirational life will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 117 N. 7th St., Santa Paula, CA, 93060 at 2:00 pm on Saturday, Jan. 19 (parking is available in the B. of A. parking lot or on the street). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cynthia’s name to the Flower Guild of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or to Sansum Diabetes Research Institute by CLICKING HERE