James M. Davidson, Sr. – Colonel, United States Army

James M. Davidson, 83, who retired in 1971 as a Colonel with the Army and Army Reserve, died of a massive coronary, 24 December l994 at Zurbrugg Memorial hospital in Riverside, New Jersey.

Colonel Davidson began his military career in 1929 when he enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard.  He was promoted to Second Lieutenant in 1933, and Captain in 1936. Colonel Davidson was called to active duty in 1940 as an Assistant Inspector General for the 44th Infantry Division.  He was promoted to Major in 1941, when he became Inspector General, to Lieutenant Colonel in 1943 and to full Colonel in 1945.

He served throughout World War II in the United States and in the European Theater of Operations.

While serving in France, the Rhineland and Central Europe he was decorated with the Legion of Merit, 3 Bronze Sstars, Eastern Theater medal and ribbon and a defense ribbon.

Colonel Davidson, a resident of Cinnaminson, New Jersey, was born 26 January 1911 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He graduated from Palmyra High School, and then attended Drexel University and Trenton State College where he later graduated.

“The Colonel”(as the Rotarians called him) joined the Palmyra-Riverton-Cinnaminson Rotary in 1955 and later served as President of the club.  He was elected District Governor for Rotary District 7640 in 1992.  He helped the Rotary District raise so much in scholarship funds for college students that the district now gives three scholarships a year.  One of his greatest efforts in Rotary, was the money he helped raise to help wipe out polio.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy M. Price Davidson, his son James M. Davidson Jr., his daughters Barbara Pilcher and Susan Hodges; five grandchildren; and one nephew, William Davidson.

James M. Davidson

On December 24, l994, James M. Davidson, Colonel, Army of the United States, Retired, age 83, died at Zurbrugg Memorial Hospital, Riverside, New Jersey.

Husband of Dorothy M. (nee Price) of Cinnaminson, New Jersey; father of Barbara and husband Gary Pilcher of Pennsauken, James Jr. and wife Ginny of Cinnaminson, Susan and husband Gary Hodges of Palmyra, New Jersey; five grandchildren and one nephew, William Davidson, brother of Frank of Tuckerton and the late William A. Davidson.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to call Thursday evening from 6pm to 9pm and to attend the funeral service Thursday at 9pm at the Weber Funeral Home, 112 Broad Street, Riverton, New Jersey.  Interment will be Friday with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please make memorials to the Rotary Foundation c/o Palmyra-Riverton-Cinnaminson Rotary or the Palmyra Ambulance Association.

Information provided by his loving daughter, Susan Hodges, who wrote: “My dad would have been very proud of what you have done with the memories of all the men and women buried in Arlington.  I don’t get to go down there often, so this will be a good place for me to go to visit my dad when I cannot get to the cemetery itself.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard