Gilda Davidson Dies in Athens
Gilda Marie Davidson, a long-time resident of Union and Wallowa counties, died September 13, in Athens, Greece where she had been receiving medical care for a week. She was 63.
The daughter of Henry Newton and Jeannie Gail Ashby, she was born March 5, 1912 in Kansas City, Mo. She and her family moved to La Grande in 1922. She was graduated from La Grande High School and from Lindenwood School for Girls in St. Louis, Mo. She was married to John Raymond Davidson June 23, 1936.
The Davidson and Ashby’s moved from La Grande to their ranch homes at Water Canyon near Wallowa in 1940. After the ranch was sold the Davidson’s moved back to La Grande in 1972. Mrs. Davidson had worked as a bookkeeper for several years at the former Bowman-Hicks Lumber Co. in La Grande and at their Wallowa office which her father had managed until it was sold in the late 1940’s. She was a partner with her husband in the J.R. Davidson, Inc. Logging Co. in Wallowa until they retired in 1972.
Mrs. Davidson was a member and Past Worthy Matron of Jessica Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, in Wallowa and had held the state OES office of Grand Marshal. She was a founder and the first Mother Advisor of Rainbow for Girls in Wallowa.
Mrs. Davidson was a former member of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Enterprise and a member of St. Peters Episcopal Church in La Grande. An enthusiastic golfer, she was a member of the La Grande Country Club and also played golf in Enterprise.
In addition to her husband, she leaves a daughter, Gail Fineberg of Redding, Ca. a brother, Henry Newton Ashby, Jr. of Wallowa and two grandchildren.
Funeral services are being arranged by the Daniel Funeral Home in La Grande.
Wallowa County Chieftain, Wallowa County, Oregon, Thursday September 18, 1975