Submitted by
Louise Willison

Daniel Elijah Davidson

NEWKIRK — Daniel Elijah Davidson, Newkirk resident, died Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 18, 2006, at Medicalodge East in Arkansas City, Kan. He was 84.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, in Miller-Stahl Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Steve Harshman, minister of Christ's Church of Newkirk officiating. Burial will take place at a later time in Newkirk Cemetery. The body will lie in state at the funeral home Friday until 9 p.m. and Saturday until noon.

Daniel Elijah Davidson was born June 2, 1922, in Brookfield, Mo., the son of Jim and Rosie May Howard Davidson. He grew up and received his education at Carlton, Mo. He then worked as a farm hand in the Madison, Mo., area.

On Nov. 18, 1942, he entered the United States Army and served as a heavy machine gunner with the RCN Company 774th TD BN. Campaigns and battles he was engaged in included Rineland, Central Europe, Ardennes, Normandy and North France, and he was awarded five bronze stars. He was honorably discharged as a technician fifth grade on Nov. 2, 1945.

On June 14, 1949, he married Velma Hazel Landers Pappan in Arkansas City, Kan., and lived in Newkirk until 1953 when they moved to Arkansas City. He was employed as a millwright with Dixie Portland Flour Mill. He retired in 1984, and they returned to Newkirk. He had his own lawn service for several years. He moved to Medicalodge East in 2005.

He was a member of the Assembly of God and the American Legion Shelton Beaty Post 18 in Arkansas City. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing and yard work.

Survivors include two stepsons, Jimmy C. Pappan of Newkirk and Jerry D. Pappan of Arkansas City, Kan.; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife on Jan. 30, 2002; three stepsons, Calvin, Kenneth and Otis Pappan; two grandchildren; his parents; five brothers; and eight sisters.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Diabetes Association of America, c/o Eastman National Bank, Box 468, Newkirk, Okla. 74647-0468.