Peter D. Davidson

Peter Davidson died at 5:00 pm on November 29, 2014. Peter was born in Venice, CA, January 22, 1923, and as an infant moved with his family to Valley Center, CA. His early memories of rural life included a brush with a bobcat, primary education in a two room schoolhouse and planting walnut trees, several of which still stand on his family's former property. There he also began rock-hunting, a hobby he pursued until recently; minerals he collected are in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History. He graduated at 16 from Escondido High School and earned a BA in chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley after a break to serve in the Pacific during World War II. Peter was a veteran of the New Guinea, Philippines and Okinawa campaigns and was one of the first occupation soldiers to land on the Japanese mainland.

After graduation, he married Josephine McPhee of Santa Rosa, California, and found work as an engineer in the petroleum industry. He spent a number of years with Aramco in Saudi Arabia and spoke Arabic well. He returned to the U.S. and worked in New York and California before returning to school for a Master's Degree in Chemistry in the early 1970s. He then worked for the Bechtel Corporation on projects around the world. Pete had earlier studied management at the University of Pittsburgh and continued to acquire new knowledge and skills until the end of his life.

A Bellingham resident since 1987 (he retired from Anvil Corporation in 2002), Peter designed and built wheelchair ramps around Whatcom County and advised businesses, local government and private individuals on ADA requirements and the design of restrooms, ramps and other facilities to accommodate wheelchairs. In 2008, Peter collected letters he had written during his service with an Army Air Force Engineering Battalion, adding photographs and personal commentary to write 'Bulldozing the Way', a book praised by veterans and historians of the Second World War.

Survivors are his son James (Tamara) Davidson, their adult children Jesse, Sarah and Tony; his daughter, Mary H. (Nicholas) Mele, their children Nicco (Morra) Mele along with their children Asa and Tom, Peter, (Barbara) Mele and their daughters Sophia, Irene and Eleanor; sister Helene Jacoby of Boise, Idaho, her adult children Mary Martha, Joseph, Bernard, Helene and their families.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 3 from 5PM -7PM at Westford Funeral Home, followed by a Vigil Service at at 7PM at Westford Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 4 at 10:30AM at the Church of the Assumption, followed by a reception. Fr. Scott Connolly will be officiating.

Memorials in Peter's name may be made to Hope House, 207 Kentucky St, Bellingham, WA 98225.