William Robert “Bill” Davidson

William Robert “Bill” Davidson, 87, of Lynchburg, VA, died on Thursday, November 18, 2021, of cancer.  He was the husband of Pattie Crockett Davidson for 66+ years. Born Friday, June 15th, 1934, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Bill was a son of the late Benjamin Franklin Davidson, Sr., and the late Dorothy Louise Huber Davidson.

When Bill was 2 years old his family moved back to Jonesville, Virginia. Bill was active in all aspects of Jonesville High School, making good grades and playing Baseball, Basketball (All Conference), Band, Beta Club, Who’s Who, Drama, Student Body President, etc. He continued on to Virginia Military Institute, graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering, Class of 1955. While at VMI, he played Varsity Baseball, was on the Rat Wrestling Team, was in the Band, and served as the Swimming Team Manager.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by their daughter, Dorline Elizabeth Davidson-Harvey, and her husband Douglas, their son, Robert Lee Davidson and his wife, Gail, a granddaughter Rachael Marie Harvey, several nephews and nieces and their families and many others who considered him family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his older brother Benjamin F. Davidson, Jr., and his wife Ruth, and his younger brother Richard A. (Dick) Davidson and his wife Phyllis, and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, and a niece.

Bill served in the United States Army, going to Basic Training at Ft. Jackson in NC, then on to Electronics School at Ft. Monmouth, NJ, with his remaining time at White Sands Proving Ground in NM.

Upon completion of his military commitment, he went to work for VDOT after having worked for VDOT as a teenager during the summers by carrying rocks from farmers’ fields to be broken up and crushed with a sledge hammer to be used for gravel.  Bill’s career spanned 34 years.  He worked in all 8 districts, as well as the Central Office in Richmond, VA.  He retired from VDOT in 1991, as the Lynchburg District Engineer.  He was selected to attend the Federal Highway Executive Management Institutes in Charlottesville, VA, and at Ole Miss University in Mississippi; to be selected to attend was an honor.  Bill was a member of the Freemasons and ACCA Temple of Roanoke and the Elks Lodge in Lynchburg.  Bill was an active member of the United Methodist Church, first as a young man at Jonesville United Methodist and, most recently, at Timberlake United Methodist.  He loved golf and had played the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail with some of his Brother Rats. He was a lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan, as well as a fan of the Washington Redskins. He was active in alumni activities at VMI and served on the Board of Governors for 8 years.  If his beloved VMI Keydets were playing, he was most likely in the stands, regardless of the sport and whether the games were at home or away.

The family wishes to thank Centra Hospice, especially nurse Lindsey Frett.

Visitation will begin at 1:30 pm with A Celebration of Life service beginning at 3:00 pm at Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory located at 220 Breezewood Drive, Lynchburg, VA  24502, on Thursday, December 2, 2021.  Attendees please wear a mask.

Memorial contributions may be sent to:  The Virginia Military Institute Keydet Club, Inc., at:  VMI Alumni Agencies, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450, or Timberlake United Methodist Church, at 21649 Timberlake Road, Lynchburg, VA  24502.

 

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