Print
Tributes
Virginia L. Davison
Virginia L. Davison, former owner of the historic Old Store in the ghost town of Pearce, died March 2 in hospice care at the age of 93.
Davison and her late husband, John Thurman, had intended to open an antique store back East upon John's retirement but changed their minds after falling in love with the Old Store, which they purchased in 1970. It wasn't long before the former Chicagoan's were being treated like old timers in daily coffee klatches, becoming well known to the area's ranchers at the local restaurant. After several successful years, the store fell prey to the drastic drop in tourism caused by the gasoline shortages of the 1970s.
Virginia continued to run the general store for several years after John's death in 1978, remarrying Frederic G. " Dave" Davison, a retired Marine in 1982. Both Dave and Virginia were badly injured when the driver of a pickup truck ran a stop sign and plowed into their car as they returned from their honeymoon. Both were hospitalized for several months. Eventually both recovered and went on to travel throughout the West and even back to the South Pacific area in which Dave served as a Marine.
Following Dave's death in 1993, Ginger sold the Old Store and moved to Tucson to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law.
A daughter, Robin Svejcara and son-in-law Robert Svejcara and sister Marvene Philips of Fort Wayne, Ind., survive Virginia.
Funeral services will be private with burial at Fort Huachuca. Services entrusted to Westlawn Chapel, Mortuary and Crematory of Willcox, Ariz.
Davison and her late husband, John Thurman, had intended to open an antique store back East upon John's retirement but changed their minds after falling in love with the Old Store, which they purchased in 1970. It wasn't long before the former Chicagoan's were being treated like old timers in daily coffee klatches, becoming well known to the area's ranchers at the local restaurant. After several successful years, the store fell prey to the drastic drop in tourism caused by the gasoline shortages of the 1970s.
Virginia continued to run the general store for several years after John's death in 1978, remarrying Frederic G. " Dave" Davison, a retired Marine in 1982. Both Dave and Virginia were badly injured when the driver of a pickup truck ran a stop sign and plowed into their car as they returned from their honeymoon. Both were hospitalized for several months. Eventually both recovered and went on to travel throughout the West and even back to the South Pacific area in which Dave served as a Marine.
Following Dave's death in 1993, Ginger sold the Old Store and moved to Tucson to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law.
A daughter, Robin Svejcara and son-in-law Robert Svejcara and sister Marvene Philips of Fort Wayne, Ind., survive Virginia.
Funeral services will be private with burial at Fort Huachuca. Services entrusted to Westlawn Chapel, Mortuary and Crematory of Willcox, Ariz.
 |
 |
|
| Michael Shell | Johnnie T. Lambert |
Reader Tributes
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
