Davies was 89. He died in England, which was home, though he spent many years in Hawai'i.

The business leader was a grandson of Theophilus Harris Davies, who left England in 1856 and expanded a Hawai'i trading firm he acquired in 1868 that led to the establishment of Theo H. Davies & Co. in 1884.

Geoffrey Clive Davies joined the family firm in 1946 and rose to oversee agricultural, insurance, steamship and travel operations. He retired in 1961 as vice president but remained a director, and became chairman in 1966. As chairman, Davies led a fight against a surprise takeover of the firm by Dillingham Corp. in 1967, and several years later helped facilitate the firm's sale to Hong Kong-based Jardine Matheson.

Campbell Estate trustee David Heenan, who in the early 1980s joined Theo H. Davies & Co. as chief executive officer shortly after Davies left the company, said he stayed in close touch with the longtime chairman.

"He never lacked an opinion about where we were headed," Heenan said. "He was incredibly gracious to me and really anybody who worked for Theo Davies Group. He always had time for us.

"He absolutely loved Hawai'i," Heenan said. "He had a real fondness for the Big Island in particular."

Davies was born in Hampshire, England, and served in the British Navy. During the outbreak of World War II, he was captured in Japan and interned for eight months before being repatriated in an exchange.

Davies first moved to Hawai'i briefly in 1932, then returned in 1946. He served as British Consul for Hawai'i from 1950-56, and was appointed to the Order of the British Empire.

Married to wife, Joan, for 63 years, Davies was father of Susan, Cynthia, Alison and Peter and was a grandfather and great-grandfather.

Funeral services will be at St. Mary's Church in Harkstead in the eastern England borough of Ipswich on June 27. No flowers, please. Funeral service provider Farthing Singleton & Hastings can be reached at 01-473-272-711.