Lt. Col. William Wheeler Davidson, Jr. Obituary (1931 - 2020)

Lt. Col. William Wheeler Davidson, Jr., US Army retired, and a true southern gentleman, died September 25, 2020. Born January 5, 1931 in Lithonia, Georgia to William Wheeler Davidson and Martha Peacock Davidson, he graduated from Lithonia High School class of 1948. While at LHS, Wheeler was a star basketball player and a proud member of the six-man football team who won the 1948 State Championship. After graduating from North Georgia College as a "distinguished military graduate" with a degree in Physical Education. Wheeler was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and deployed for a tour of duty in Korea. After returning to the states and being stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, he earned his Airborne Wings and completed the rigorous Ranger training to earn the coveted Ranger Tab. While at his next assignment at Fort Hood, he met the love of his life, his "Fox", Lieutenant Virginia "Ginny" Smith, an Army Nurse. They were married on August 20, 1960, and recently celebrated their 60th Anniversary. During his army career he served two combat tours in Vietnam and, as a soldier's soldier, was proud to have earned the Army CIB, Combat Infantryman Badge. This was a badge he wore proudly on his lapel even after he retired from the military. With over 20 years of service to his country, he received many Decorations, Medals, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons. In 1971, Wheeler earned a Masters Degree from Georgia State University. He taught history and was the assistant football coach for Clarkston High School, in DeKalb County. He often commented that administrators and faculty had such a wonderful comradeship, especially the DDD. After retiring from teaching, Wheeler enjoyed playing golf with his life-long friend and fellow Lithonia High School alum, Billy White. He loved following the Georgia Bulldog Football team and along with his "Fox", were one of the founding members of the infamous "Oaktree Tailgate Gang", a group of family and friends who tailgated under one of the majestic oaks on campus and traveled together to the away games. He was the self-appointed, non-elected, can't be fired Chairman of the group. Wheeler never met a stranger and was a friend to all. He had an infectious personality and was known for telling jokes, sharing stories, and on occasion would quote poetry, especially works of Rudyard Kipling. He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Virginia "Ginny" Smith Davidson; daughter, Cynthia Dupree and her husband, Jay, of Oxford; sons, Keith Davidson and his wife, Sharon, of Tallahassee, Florida, and Philip Davidson and his wife, Tammy, of Shady Dale, Georgia; four grandchildren, Samantha Kupbens and her husband, Anthony, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Jennifer Davidson of St. Petersburg, Florida, Maxwell "Max" Davidson and Madison "Maddy" Davidson of Oxford; sister, Julia Camp and her husband, Henry, of Columbia, SC; a niece Audra Camp Davidson and her husband, Steve, of Blythewood, SC; and numerous family and friends. A service was held in the chapel of Henry Funeral, Lithonia, Georgia followed by interment at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Milledgeville, Georgia. In lieu of flowers the family ask that memorial donations be made to the First United Methodist Church of Lithonia, Georgia (3099 Stone Mountain Street, 30058) or to Abbey Hospice in Social, Circle, Georgia (215 Azalea Court, 30025). "God, Country, Family, Football--Southern Pillars of our Soul. We long for future victories and one more Sugar Bowl."