Viola Davidson

Viola May Knoche Davidson, 92, died March 13, 2011, in her sleep at her home on the Davidson farm east of Paola. She was born May 25, 1918 at her family"s farm south of Somerset, the third of five children of George Louis and Clara Arnold Knoche. She attended and graduated from the Beaver Creek schoolhouse and Paola High School (class of "35) and then taught school for one year at Beaver Creek schoolhouse. The following year she started her college education at the University of Kansas by virtue of being accepted to live at the Miller Scholarship Hall. She received her degree in Education in 1940 and then taught high school in Rossville, KS for two years. In 1942, she joined the Navy and served as a WAVES officer through WWII at the Naval Air Station in Vero Beach, Florida. Her primary duties involved scheduling and tracking the training courses of Navy airmen, particularly those that were first learning how to safely fly-by-night in airplanes especially equipped with radar. After the war Viola was accepted to Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA and received her Masters in Education in 1947. She then taught high school at Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Jose, CA from 1947 to 1955. She married Loren Albert Davidson, son of L. Roy and Mabel Crawford Davidson, on April 2, 1955 in the Memorial Church on the campus of Stanford University, CA. Together they farmed and raised their children on the farm established in the 1870"s by Loren"s grandfather, Thomas Crawford. Loren died June 20, 1978 at the Miami County Hospital in Paola. Their first child, Margaret Maria, was born with Down Syndrome in 1956. Loren and Viola became very active advocating for the care and education of children with developmental disabilities. They were active in the formation and development of the Miami County Association for Retarded Children, and well as the ARC that served the entire state of Kansas. Viola eventually served as the President of the Kansas ARC. Loren and Viola were also instrumental in the development of Lakemary Center, which opened in the fall of 1969. As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations, Viola was recognized for her many years of service and the Davidson family was named as one of the founding families of Lakemary Center at the dedication of the Founders" Fieldhouse. Viola also helped establish Tri-Ko, Inc. in the mid 1970"s, which is the sheltered workshop that gave many adults with developmental disabilities their first opportunity to have a place to work and earn a living. She served on that board for many years. Viola became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Paola as a young woman upon the closing of the Highland Church near her family"s farm in rural Miami County. She was always very involved with the activities and projects of the women of the church, especially the thrift shop. She was also a longtime member of the Pleasant Hour Club, the American Association of University Women and the local Extension Homemaker"s Unit. She was an adult leader for many years with the Busy Beavers 4-H club, as well as the Lakemary 4-H club. She served on the Miami County Extension Council from 1996 to 1999. Viola worked for the State of Kansas in the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services from 1970 until her retirement in 1983. She was promoted several times during her tenure and helped many citizens and children in this region with the social services they needed. She is survived by her daughters Margaret Maria Davidson of Paola and Elizabeth Ann Davidson of Davis, CA, by her son Thomas Crawford Davidson of Dillon, CO, by her youngest brother Dr. Robert Louis Knoche of Gardner, KS and by her sisters-in-law Mrs. Donna Knoche of Gardner and Mrs. Ann Knoche of Coronado, CA. She is preceded in death by her husband Loren Albert, and by her siblings Alfred Knoche of Paola, Rosemarie Knoche Kamman of Bloomington, IN and John Knoche of Coronado, CA. A memorial service and celebration of Viola"s life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church at the end of May to coincide with family that are returning from across the country for Memorial Day weekend to recognize her brother John Knoche"s lifetime service in the Navy and his award of the Distinguished Flying Cross earned in the Pacific during WWII. Memorials will be established to benefit the First Presbyterian Church of Paola (110 East Peoria St.) and the Lakemary Center Foundation. The family requests no flowers. First Presbyterian Church Service: Saturday, May 28, 2011 4:00 PM Visitation: Saturday, May 28, 2011 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM