Oscar Davidson

Oscar Davidson, 87, of Somerset, son of the late David white and Nannie Spurlock Davidson, of Clay County, KY, was born on May 10, 1925. He passed early Thursday morning in the Hospice Wing of Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center from complications of a 10 year battle with prostate cancer. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Dotty Berry Davidson; one son, Bart (and Debbie) Davidson of Richmond, and; one daughter, Lavaun (and Tim) Zimmerman of Somerset, KY. Oscar also had; three grandchildren, Mary Beth Davidson of Richmond, Luke (and Lola) Davidson of Lexington, and Laura Leigh Zimmerman of Somerset. Oscar is also survived by many Nieces, Nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends who will miss him, yet will continue to feel his presence in their lives. To all of them, he would say “I love you.” Other than his parents, he was also preceded in death by; two sisters, Stella Gay and Elsie Burns of Clay County, KY. Born in the family homestead on Little Bullskin Creek, near Oneida, Kentucky, Oscar traveled at the age 14 to the Berea College Foundation High School. While a senior there he volunteered with the U. S. Air Force in 1943, but was honorably discharged after a heart murmur was discovered following Boot Camp. After being discharged, he returned to Berea to continue his education, earning a B. A. in Business. After Berea, he attended the University of Kentucky, where he completed two years of graduate school in business administration. He started working with Swift and Company (now Con-Agra) before completing his masters. Oscar met Dotty during this time, who was attending Eastern Kentucky University. They were married in Danforth Chapel at Berea College on July 25, 1953. Oscar continued to work for Swift and Company for 37 years, retiring in 1986. Oscar was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Somerset, where he served as a Sunday School teacher of the senior men’s class. At the time of his passing, he was the oldest male member of the church. He was also a former trustee of Oneida Baptist Institute in Clay County, which was always near his heart. Very active in the Somerset Rotary Club until recent years, Oscar was a past-president and long time editor of “The Rotarian” the club’s newsletter. Oscar also received the Paul Harris Fellowship award while serving with Rotary for meeting high professional and personal standards. Oscar was well known for his wonderful sense of humor, was a friend to everyone he met. His great joy in life was interacting with people, and he once quipped that he “was equally comfortable talking with the janitors at Berea or the Queen of England.” He is already, and will continue to be, sorely missed by all those who had the good fortune to know him. Funeral arrangements for Oscar Davidson are with the Pulaski Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Monday Evening, September 17th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Grace Baptist Church of 340 Oak Leaf Lane, Somerset, (beside the Hal Rogers Fire Training Center off Hwy 1247). Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 18, 2012, also at Grace Baptist Church and officiated by Pastor Bill Haynes. Burial will follow in the Lakeside Memorial Gardens located on West Highway 80 in Somerset, Expressions of Sympathy are requested in the form of donations to any of the following: Building Fund of Grace Baptist Church (340 Oak Leaf Lane, Somerset, KY 42503; Oneida Baptist Institute (P.O. Box 67, Oneida, KY 40972-0067; or Hospice of Lake Cumberland (100 Parkway Drive, Somerset, KY 42503.