Edward George Davison
September 23, 1925 - March 22, 2019
Obituary
MADISON-Edward George “Ed” Davison, age 93, passed away on Friday, March 22, 2019, at Waunakee Manor. He and his twin sister, Sissy (Davison) Spears were born in Chicago, Ill., to Otto and Mabelle (MacDonald) Davison. He graduated from Morgan Park High School in Chicago and then was drafted into the U.S. Army, eventually assigned to the 21st regimental combat team, 24th Infantry Division. He saw combat action in New Guinea and the Philippines, later spending time in Japan as part of the occupation forces.
Ed attended the University of Illinois under the GI bill. He worked for the E.I. DuPont de Nemours Company as a sales and marketing representative of industrial finishes. On June 19, 1948, he married Janice Barnes at the Morgan Park Baptist Church, Chicago. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary before her death in May 2014.
Ed is a past president of the Optimist Club of East Madison/Monona, a member of the Madison Friendship Force, the Madison Sports Hall of Fame, and a life member of VFW Post No. 7591. Ed served as a Bucky Ambassador for 22 years and was a volunteer at the World Dairy Expo. He went to Washington DC with the Badger Honor Flight.
Ed is survived by his five daughters; Susan Bellefeuille of DeForest, twins, Jill Arps of Brookfield and Joan Cardarella of Madison, Ann Davison of Deerfield and Jean Gindreau of Los Alamos, N.M.; seven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Janice; his older brother, Craig Davison of Wilmington, Del.; twin sister, Sissy Spears of Gladwyn, Pa.; and sons-in-law, Craig Bellefeuille and Steve Cardarella.
A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 29, 2019, with Chaplain John Berg presiding. Military honors will follow with a luncheon at the funeral home. Burial will be held at Highland Memory Gardens. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Optimist Club of East Madison/Monona: c/o Jerry Nelson, 706 W. Dean Ave. Monona, WI 53716. Special thanks to the caring staff at Agrace HospiceCare and Waunakee Manor. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
Events
Visitation
Fri Mar 29, 2019 @ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Service
Fri Mar 29, 2019 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Photos
No photos of Edward have been shared yet.
Memories
SK
Shirley Martinson Kiesling
Other •
There was so much I did no know about "Grampa Eddie'. I always called him Eddie, and he never corrected me for not calling him Ed. I did not know he served in the military and saw combat action. Thank you, Ed, for your service. What an accomplished and successful life with a beautiful family, too. He was a leader and an Ambassador. I will miss you and our conversations at family holiday dinners at Scott and Tracy's. I always enjoyed your sense of humor, your huge smile, and laughter. " Ed, you never told me you were a twin, I have a twin sister. " Not a wonder I felt we had a camaraderie of sort . Rest in Peace with Gramma Jan. Your smile will light up the heavens.
With heartfelt sympathy, Love, Shirley Martinson Kiesling
TF
Tammi Alexander, Badger Honor Flight
Other •
The volunteers, flight team and board of Badger Honor Flight mourn the loss of their hero, Edward Davison. We are thankful for his military service and proud to have served him on his trip to Washington, D.C. on October 11, 2011.