George Laurence Davidson

George Laurence Davidson was born March 10, 1918 in New Jersey, and he passed away Monday, February 15, 2010 in La Mirada, California.George grew up in Lakewood, NJ, the only child of Elizabeth (Bessie) Burdge and John Laurence Davidson. He began piano lessons at an early age and became the organist at All Saints Episcopal Church in Lakewood, NJ when he was 15. He majored in music at Trenton State, graduating in 1939. He and 4 friends celebrated their graduation by being a dance band on the Statendam, a ship under Holland American. After crossing the ocean, they bicycled through Germany and Austria until the US Embassy told them to leave because of the rising Nazi thread.He taught music in Park Ridge NJ until the US joined 'the war (WW II). He was part of FEASC (Far East Air Service Command), a branch of the Army at that time. Always good as a mechanic, he and his crew kept the airplanes in the air, repairing whatever was needed. After peace was declared, he went to the Philippines until 1946.In 1946, he rode his motorcycle across the country to begin his master's degree in organ and music education at USC. As it would happen, Lucy Carpenter came out west to live with Aunt Anna & Uncle Merritt Votaw, to begin her master's in music education. Small world. They met in the choir loft after George was hired as the organist there. George served as organist for over 60 years until macular degeneration forced him to leave the organ bench. He felt his greatest achievement at First Friends was the installation of the Harris Organ in the sanctuary. He loved to play it full out whenever the opportunity arose. George married Lucy April 8, 1949 during the school break at Easter. They made music together literally & figuratively until May 1993 when Lucy died after a short illness. They were parents of Ann, now of Old Chatham, NY and Larry, deceased. Every summer while the children were growing up, the family spent a week or 2 months traveling in a travel trailer across the US, Canada and Mexico. George taught at Wilson High School, L.A. City School system until taking early retirement at 60. While teaching at Wilson, he became acquainted with the Uribe family, whose children were students there. The Uribe's became a second family for the Davidson's, providing many more children and grandchildren to love. After Lucy passed away, George and Ann changed their mode of travel to cruising. For his 80th birthday, he walked to the top of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. For his 90th, he spent 10 glorious days around Hawaii. He was always ready to go on a cruise!You may leave a message of condolence for the family by selecting 'Sign Guestbook' at the top of this page.