William F. Davidson's Obituary
William F. Davidson died peacefully on June 21, 2020, at C.C. Young in Dallas and is making heaven smile with his merry whistle. Bill was born in Goose Creek—a little neighborhood In Houston—on July 30, 1926. He grew up in and around Goose Creek, Baytown and Pelly.
His parents, James and Agnes Davidson were newcomers to the States from Belfast, Ireland. They emigrated in the first decade of the 20th century to Winnipeg, Canada, and quickly made their way south to the sunnier climes of Texas.
In 1943, Bill enlisted in the Navy after convincing his parents to let him join at 17. He served in the South Pacific as a machinist mate first class on a repair barge. He remembers being “not too smart” but he was just a kid. He kept the engine room spick and span and kept the coffee pot percolating. He enjoyed the experience a lot.
After the war, Bill returned to Houston and became involved in a neighborhood church and was especially active in the young adult group. A married couple encouraged him to consider the ministry—and Bill never looked back.
He went to college at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, where he met Marilyn Madsen, a lovely young lady from Minden, Nebraska. Marilyn remembers looking out of her second-floor dorm room with a friend and noticing a lanky, handsome fellow walking across the green. That was Bill.
They were married and set off to Fort Worth, where Bill received his Doctor of Divinity degree from TCU’s Brite Divinity School. They served student churches in Alice and Bowie before moving to Liberty, Missouri, in 1955. Son Craig was born in Bowie in 1955 and Doug in Liberty in 1957.
After Liberty, Bill and Marilyn’s ministry included churches in Liberal, Kansas; Kirksville, Missouri; Frankfort, Indiana; and Dallas, Texas.
Bill had always hoped to return to his Texas roots, so the call to serve Casa View Christian in East Dallas in 1980 was a happy homecoming. Bill and Marilyn served Casa View until Bill’s retirement in 1991.
In retirement, Bill wasn’t very retiring. He stayed active caring for Marilyn until her death from Parkinson’s Disease in 1995, was president of the Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society, tutored third-grade students and served multiple churches in North Texas as interim ministry. He was a faithful member of Highlands Christian Church in Lake Highlands.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, James and Agnes Davidson; brother, James E. Davidson; wife, Marilyn Davidson; and son, Craig Davidson. He is survived by son, Doug Davidson; daughter-in-law Janice Davidson; grandsons Cameron Davidson, Christopher Davidson, James C. Davidson Jr. (Manessah), Jeremy Davidson (Jennifer), Joshua Davidson (Grace) and granddaughter, Camilea Davidson. He is also survived by nephews, Kerry Davidson and David Thiel, and niece, Lyn Heng—and by a host of friends who will cherish his memory, including dear friend, Pearl Mann.
Bill loved life and lived every day with a kind heart, joyful faith and love of beauty that enriched everyone he met. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s honor to Highlands Christian Church or the Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society. The family would like to thank and honor the courageous caregivers and hospice team at CC Young, who provided unflagging love and comfort.
Due to Covid-19 public services have been postponed at this time.
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