RC/NWA/DL Capt. Gary Dale Davidson

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

RC/NWA/DL Capt. Gary Dale Davidson

July 3, 1958 - August 24, 2023

 

Notice of passing….retired Republic/Northwest/Delta Air Lines pilot Captain Gary Dale Davidson, age 65.  Gary began his career with Republic Airlines 11-11-1985 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 2019.  Gary is survived by his wife Kathy, and by his children and their families.

Obituary information can be viewed online at

https://www.bernafuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Gary-Davidson-7/#!/TributeWall

also at

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/gary-davidson-obituary?id=52938284

For those who may wish to send a personal note, the family’s address is listed in whitepages as

10589 Ervin McGarrah Rd – PO Box 825

Lowell, AR 72745

 

Thank you,

~ Carol for the PCN 

 

Obituary : Gary Dale Davidson

Gary Dale Davidson, 65, of Lowell, AR went to his heavenly home on Thursday August

24th,2023, surrounded by his family at his home after a seven year battle with cancer.

Gary was born in Gravette, AR to Marion Charles and Peggy June Russell Davidson on

July 3rd,1958; the 3rd of 4 siblings. Gary gave his life to Jesus Christ when he was 11

years old at First Baptish Church West Memphis. Gary graduated from Marion High

School in West Memphis in 1976 and then attended The University of Arkansas and

Henderson State University. He met Kathy Ann Johnson at Sunbelt Airlines in Camden,

AR, and they were married on November 22, 1982. In 1986, they settled in Northwest

Arkansas and where they raised their four children Shawn, Hannah, Maxwell, and

Gabrielle.

Gary earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation in 1980 and started his career as a pilot for

Sunbelt Airlines. In 1985, he moved to Republic Airlines, who soon merged with Northwest

Airlines where he flew for 23 years as a co-pilot and captain of the DC-9, DC-10, 727,

A320, and the 757. Northwest and Delta merged in 2008, and he finished his aviation

career with Delta as a captain on the A330 in 2019. He loved to fly the long-haul flights to

Alaska, Athens, Guam, Hawaii, Rome and Shenzhen.

Gary loved the Lord more than anything. He was actively involved at Immanuel Baptist

Church in Rogers for 30+ years as a Sunday school teacher of varying ages, a member of

the Men of Valor men’s group, and part of the Saturday night prayer group. Starting in

2020, he taught a Bible class on Zoom to a group of Vietnamese students. When flying

trips to Africa for Delta, he would bring suitcases of supplies with him to missionaries that

were working in local orphanages.

After his faith, Gary loved his family, an array of outdoor activities, and the Razorbacks. He

and Kathy loved to travel before having kids and passed on that love to their children with

annual trips all over the world. Gary and Kathy recently celebrated their 40th wedding

anniversary with a tour of Israel. He was active in his children’s lives coaching little league,

soccer, basketball, teaching them to waterski, fish, and hunt. He enjoyed fishing on

layovers in Alaska and Iceland and in recent years was the best Pawpaw to a growing list

of grandchildren.

He will be missed by his wife Kathy Davidson of Lowell, AR, son Shawn Davidson and his

wife Elizabeth of Plano, TX, daughter Hannah Mock and her husband Kyle of Plano, TX,

son Maxwell Davidson and his wife Courtney of Rogers, AR, and daughter Gabrielle

Davidson of Lowell, AR, grandchildren Jake Davidson, Russell Mock, and Campbell

Davidson, sister and brother-in-law Karen Spurrier and Dane Spurrier of Charlestown, WV,

and many much-loved nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his

parents Marion and Peggy Davidson, his sisters Donna Davidson and Janet Davidson,

and grandchild baby Alex.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at the

Nelson-Berna Funeral home in Rogers and a celebration of life is scheduled for

Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at 2:00pm in the Hunt Memorial Chapel.

The family kindly asks that you wear bright colors for the celebration of life. Gary has no

more pain and is in a better place in the presence of his Lord and Savior.