Jay Davidson

Dr. Jay Frank Davidson, 80, of New Cumberland, died Saturday, November 2, 2013, at his home. Born September 29, 1933 in Shippensburg, he was the son of the late Frank and Gladys (RIFE) Davidson. Both of Jay’s parents tragically died when Jay was a youngster of 10 years old. As was the custom in the close-knit Newburg rural farm community in the 1940’s, Jay was immediately accepted and raised into the family of his Aunt and Uncle, Roy and Mary Davidson on their dairy farm in Newburg. The move to Roy and Mary’s family gained Jay three step-sisters and three step-brothers.

Jay attended the Newburg/ Shippensburg Public Schools graduating in 1950, and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Shippensburg State Teachers College in 1954. He received his Master of Science degree in biology from Indiana University (1957) and his Ph.D. degree in biology from the University of Maryland (1977). Jay began his teaching career at Shippensburg Area Senior High School (1958-65). In 1966 he began a 30 year teaching career at Shippensburg University.

Jay met and dated his future wife (Joanne Bittle) while both were attending college in Shippensburg. He married his lovely bride on August 29th, 1956 in Fort Sill (Lawton), Oklahoma, while honorably serving his country in the US Army. After his first wife, Joanne, passed away in 1993, Jay moved to New Cumberland, where he subsequently met and married Jane Deckman.

After retirement from teaching, Jay was regular at the Mechanicsburg Senior Center, playing hundreds of weekly cribbage and pinochle card games with his good friends Rich Domijian and numerous others. Jay was a generous man devoted to his family and many worthy organizations dedicated to preserving the environment, and preventing cruelty to animals which included the Audubon Society, the American Chestnut Foundation and the Dauphin County Humane Society. He was a lifelong member of the Larson Deer Hunting Camp in McKean County. Jay enjoyed supporting, and was ever boastful of his grandchildren’s numerous academic, sporting and thespian accomplishments. Jay was preceded in death by his wives Joanne (Bittle) Davidson, Jane (Deckman), and his step brothers Lee & Robert Davidson.

He is survived by one sister Lois Genevieve Lauver of Mifflintown, one step brother Kenneth Davidson of Reisterstown and three step sisters: Fredith Diehl of Shippensburg, Rhoda Carbaugh of Newburg and Betty Chamberlain of Middle Springs. He is survived by two sons and two daughters: Frank W. and wife Glenda of New Cumberland, Deborah Rotz and companion Kevin Anderson, Deb’s children’s father Daryl of Harrisburg, Jeffrey C. and wife Kathleen of Shippensburg, and Jennifer Young and husband James of Mechanicsburg. In addition, he is survived by 5 grandchildren: Joshua Davidson of Hanover, Melissa Rotz of Philadelphia, Andrew Rotz of Boston MA, Tyler Davidson attending SU in Shippensburg and Joshua and Nate Young at home in Mechanicsburg.

The viewing will be conducted Thursday, November 7th, 2013 at 9:30 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. at the FogelsangerBricker Funeral Home, 112 West King St., Shippensburg. The Rev. Byron Krapf will officiate the funeral service and the interment, which will be in the Otterbein Cemetery in Newburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Chestnut Foundation 160 Zillicoa St, Ste D Asheville, NC 28801 or the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area 7790 Grayson Rd Harrisburg, PA 17111.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.