Lendell W Davidson

Lendell W. “Dave” Davidson was born at home in Fleming, Colorado on January 17th, 1938 to George Delbert Davidson and Florence Eileen (Downing) Davidson. He was the second of four children born to this union. He grew up on the wide open expanses of the prairie helping to run his family’s dry land wheat and hog farm in Washington County, Colorado. He received his education in the primary grades at a one room school house. He later boarded with a family in town during his high school years to complete his education, graduating from Akron High School in 1955. He was active in sports participating in football and track.

Dave enlisted in the United States Navy at age 17 participating in the Kiddie Cruise program, a now extinct option available to those under the age of 18 and high school graduates. During his enlistment in the Navy he was assigned to an aviation squadron and received training in electronics. It was this training that was to serve as the basis for his future career.

While stationed in Jacksonville Florida Dave met his future wife, Willene Carter. They were later married on March 7th, 1959 in Jacksonville, Fl. Dave and Willene returned to Colorado where they have resided for the better part of their 57 years of marriage.

Dave attended one year at The University of Colorado Boulder, in their Engineering program. He dropped out, with a family on the way, to begin his career.

Dave’s work history is as varied as his talents and interests. He was a self-made man developing his skills through reading and learning on the job. He advanced himself with each new position he obtained. His work history includes positions held at: The High Altitude Observatory in Boulder and Climax Colorado. The Control Data Corporation, where he learned about computers, (The CDC was one of the nine major super computer firms in the United States in the 1960’s. Computers then, were behemoths that took up the space of an entire room and recorded information on punch cards.),

Martin Marietta (now known as Lockheed Martin) where he maintained massive super computers for a program that was to launch a probe to Mars. Intense long hours spent away from his family prompted a re-evaluation of his priorities; subsequently, in 1972, the family moved  to Montrose, Colorado to escape the “rat race,” owning the Will Rogers Motel. After selling the motel he went to work for Colorado Ute Electric Association, United Airlines; maintaining the flight simulators for training pilots; then for La Plata Electric in Durango and ended his career for the Western Area Power Administration as a meter and relay technician.

His special interests include; astronomy, gold mining, gardening, geography, historical facts, lore, and genealogy. One never knew what new hobby or interest might peak his attention.

He is a past Mason as well as a past Elks member.

Dave is survived by his wife Willene, daughter, Sandra Walker (Ed), son Scott Davidson(Gwen), sisters Carolyn Mayhugh, and Ardith Nestor, five grandchildren; Amber, Carmen, Olivia and Lindsey Davidson and Jordan Walker, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his parents Del and Florence Davidson, a brother Neil Davidson, and son James.

Visitation will be held at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, June 16th, 2016 from 4-6 pm. Graveside services will be held at Grand View Cemetery, Montrose, Colorado on Friday, June 17th, 2016 at 10:30am.