Arthur Thomas Cropper Davis, a retired Ocean City banking official, died of pulmonary disease Oct. 16 at his Ocean City home. He was 79.

Born in the Tarry-A-While guest house on Dorchester Street, Mr. Davis graduated from Ocean City High School and attended Mercersburg Academy before earning a bachelor's degree in business administration from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va., in 1951.

He began work as a teller at the Bank of Ocean City in 1953 and rose to become its president in 1973. After retiring in 1995, Mr. Davis remained on the bank's board. He was a past member of the Maryland Bankers Association.

In 1979, Mr. Davis became Ocean City's first recipient of the Outstanding Citizen Award for community service. He was a gold badge member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company and had been the captain of Engine 8. He had been the fire company's president, assistant chief and board member.

He held numerous civic offices, including presidency of the Ocean City Lions Club.

Mr. Davis was a past chairman of the town of Ocean City's pension trustees, a charter member of the Downtown Improvement Association and the Ocean City Development Corp.

Family members said he had served on the Board of Zoning Appeals, the charter revision committee, the Ocean City Youth Commission, the building-height study committee and the board of the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum.

He was a cub master in an Ocean City Scout troop and enjoyed golf.

Services were held Friday at Atlantic United Methodist Church in Ocean City, where he was a member.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, the former Janice Kaufman; two sons, Steven C. Davis of Columbia and Kenneth Arthur Davis of Fruitland; a daughter, Sandra Davis Hurley of Ocean City; a sister, Joyce Davis Harrison of Ocean City; and eight grandchildren.