Eldon Davis, American architect, creator of Googie architecture, founder of Armet & Davis died he was , 94

Eldon Davis  was an American architect, considered largely responsible for the creation of Googie architecture, a form of modern architecture originating in Southern California. Googie architecture is largely influenced by Southern California's car culture and the Space Age of the mid-20th Century died  he was , 94. Davis was a founding partner of the Armet & Davis architectural firm which championed Googie architure, including the original Norms Restaurant, a Googie coffee shop designed by Davis. For his work, the Los Angeles Times called Davis, "the father of the California coffee shop."

(1917 - April 22, 2011)

Eldon Davis was born in Washington state in 1917.^[1] He originally worked at a fish cannery while attending the University of Southern California.^[1] He created a new design for the fish cannery as an architectural student, a design that was later built.^[1] Davis earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Southern California in 1942.^[1]
Davis and his business partner, architect Louis Armet, expected to work in industrial architecture following their graduation from USC.^[1] However, their plans changed thanks to the post-war construction boom in Southern California following World War II.^[1] They began designing structures geared towards a growing population, including nurseries, churches, country clubs, banks and even bowling alleys.^[1]
In 1947, Davis and Armet opened their architectural firm, Armet & Davis, in 1947.^[1] Together, the architects used their firm and its designs to champion Googie architecture, espcially in California.^[1]
One of the best preserved examples of Davis' work is the Pann's coffee shop and its neon sign in Westchester, Los Angeles.^[1] Davis also designed the early prototypes for local Big Boy and Denny's restaurants in Los Angeles.^[1]
Eldon Davis died of complications from spinal meningitis, at a hospital in West Hills, Los Angeles, on April 22, 2011, at the age of 94.^[1] He was survived by his second wife, Luana; a dauughter, Karen; three sons, Dan, Mark and Wyatt; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.^[1] His first wife of more than thirty years died in the 1970s.^[1]

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