JEANETTE DAVIDSON
FEB. 17, 1918 - DEC. 21, 2009
Jeanette Davidson, 91, of Warm Beach, passed away on Dec. 21, 2009.
The second of six children, Jeanette was born to Louis and Mary Haubner at Covington, Ky., on Feb. 17, 1918.
As a baby, she was saved from death through the prayers and loving care of a saintly grandmother whose Godly influence contributed much to Jeanette’s life.
During the next 12 years (due to moves), she attended schools in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Loving study and making good grades, she graduated as salutatorian of the 1935 high school class of Williamsburg, Ohio.
With her mother’s insistence, she started piano lessons at 9 years of age and continued playing for churches and weddings, etc. While living near Cincinnati, Ohio, she studied music at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where she prepared for her debut as a concert pianist, playing such pieces as “Fantasy Impromptu,” “Magic Fire Scene” and other challenging numbers. One of her special numbers that she performed by memory was 29 pages long.
In her childhood there were three deaths in the family – her elder brother, by a tragic drowning, infant brother and beloved grandmother. These were traumatic experiences that, combined with the loss of their first new home during the Great Depression, made very marked impressions on her life.
As she was now the eldest child, the family depended on Jeanette for additional support. Dreams of college vanished but she worked hard and, with frugality, saved enough to attend Shaw Business College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, near an aunt’s home.
Returning home to Glendale, Ohio, jobs were found, including the main job as Clerk CAF– 1 at the U.S. Corps of Engineers Supply Depot during the World War II. Jeanette, compassionate and industrious, soon reached the top position as classification and wage analyst a CAF–7.
In 1946 she resigned from this position and, to the amazement of many, entered into God’s Bible School in Cincinnati, Ohio, having sensed God’s call to the mission fields. Meanwhile, her husband Gene returned from World War II and Europe and both were saved at the Bible School.
Jeanette is survived by her husband, Gene E. Davidson of Warm Beach Senior Community, sisters Mary Gruber of Montgomery, Ohio and Harriett Goodman of Boston, Mass., nephews Daniel and Dennis Gruber of Cincinnati, Ohio, Charles Gruber of Mt. Washington, Ky. and John Gruber of Lawrenceburg, Ind., and six nieces and nephews.
To God be the glory.
Visitation was held Dec. 23 and 28 at Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 29 at the Hillcrest Christian Fellowship Church, 1830 S.13th St., Mount Vernon, where a luncheon will follow. A graveside service will follow the luncheon at Anderson Cemetery, Stanwood.
Arrangements under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood.
