Bill Davidson
William Reed “Bill” Davidson, 89, of Breckenridge, Texas, passed away on May 31, 2024.
He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 19, 1934, to Dr. Jimmy and “Sis” Davidson. The family relocated to Thomasville, Alabama, where he graduated from Thomasville High School. He earned a bachelor’s in science for Math from Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama, in 1959. Bill loved learning and earned several graduate degrees, including an MBA and a Master’s in Math.
He continued throughout his life to take classes, read, and write papers on subjects that interested him. He was an engineer who started his career in Huntsville, Alabama. His career took him to California and, eventually, Houston, Texas, where he worked as an engineer for McDonnell Douglas on the Apollo space program. He is honored in the Space Workers Hall of Fame in Titusville, Florida. Bill loved sharing stories about his years with the space program and regularly attended reunions with others who worked on the Apollo program. While working, he met Joyce Burris, his lifelong friend and companion.
Bill’s great joy was his family. He was dubbed “Sainted Uncle Bill” by his nieces and nephews, who put miles and miles into his white pickup truck, making sure to attend every special event possible for his nieces and nephews and even his many great-nieces and great-nephews.
His generosity was boundless, not only for his family but also for those in his communities of Breckenridge and Thomasville. He loved sharing stories over a good meal, whether it was his favorite Turtle Soup at Mandina’s in New Orleans or a potluck meal with family at the “camp house” in Campbell, Alabama.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, Dr. James S. Davidson, Jr.; his mother, Edna Belle “Sis” White; and his sister, Betty Davidson Davis.
He is survived by his brothers, James S. Davidson III and Edward W. Davidson of Thomasville, and Col. J. Patrick Davidson, USAF ret. of Annapolis, Maryland; and his sister, Anne Davidson Hamilton of Asheville, North Carolina. He is also survived by 15 nieces and nephews: Jim, Laurie, Mark, Angie, Amy, Ted, Jean Marie, Jennifer, Joanna, Jim “Drew,” Kevin, Mary, Keith, Joan, and Donald; amd his great-nieces and great-nephews: Sam, Kellie, Ava, Jessie, Jessica, Amy, Julie, Annie, Frank, Ray, Anthony, Mariel, Julia, Edward, Kate, Matt, Cody and Clair.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Breckenridge, at 10 a.m. on June 12, 2024. A Rosary will be held at the church just before the service at 9:30 a.m. and will be officiated by Rev. Prakash Dias.
A Rite of Committal will be held at Choctaw County Cemetery in Thomasville, Alabama, on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church would be appreciated.
