Glen Davidson

Glen Everette Davidson, age 89, of McCormick, South Carolina, passed away peacefully at home on August 10, 2014, with his wife by his side.

Glen was born on February 12, 1925 in Florence, Alabama, the son of Thomas and Cleo Davidson. He graduated from Cornell College in 1947 and married Lois Jensen on September, 13, 1947. The family, along with many friends, lost a wonderful human being. His passions were outdoor activities, including golfing, boating, and hiking in the mountains. Glen loved being with family and friends and he lived to make others happy. His sense of humor and love of life will be greatly missed.

Glen grew up in Winter Haven, Florida and joined the Navy during World War II. He flew Dauntless Dive Bombers on the USS Bunker Hill in the Pacific Theatre. He played football for Cornell College where he met his future wife, Lois.

Glen was Marketing Director and National Sales Manager for Shaeffer Pen Company for 14 years, was an executive with Sun Mark Candy Company and was instrumental in the development of SweetTarts, Giant Jawbreakers, and Tangy Taffy. He was a Vice-President of Heath Electronics and Iowa Paint Company. In 1967, Glen built his own candy factory, Davidson of Dundee, Inc., where he manufactured hundreds of different kinds of candies, jellies, and marmalades, and shipped fresh citrus throughout the United States and Canada.

He received many accolades and awards during his career including: being inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame, the Polk County Public Schools Hall of Fame, serving as Vice-President of the Polk County Education Foundation, and was the Chairman of the Polk State College Foundation, President of the Winter Haven Rotary where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow, President of the Florida Gift Fruit Shippers Association, Director of Barnett Banks, Commodore of Lake Region Golf and Country Club, Chairman of the Polk Economic Education Council, received the economics education award from the University of South Florida, and was adjunct professor at Florida Southern College.

Glen was always active and during retirement he volunteered in local schools in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, and McCormick, South Carolina.

His life was interrupted, but while he was on this earth he embraced opportunities and the chance to embrace life with open arms. His smile, sense of humor, legendary stories,  and his charming ways will be greatly missed as Glen was one of a kind and cannot be replaced.

Those who will miss Glen the most include his wife Lois, children, Marcia Davidson, Stephen Davidson (Barbara), Karen Davidson, and Tom Davidson (Susan), and their grandchildren Ben, Andrew, Caitlin, Peter, Sam, Brian, Layne, Kimberly, and Caroline; great-grandchildren Allen, Evan, and Braelyn; and a host of loving friends.

A memorial service celebrating Glen's life will be held at the Lutheran Church by the Lake in McCormick, South Carolina at 11 am on Friday, August 15 .