Jim King Davidson, 82, died Sunday night in Hemphill, Texas. King was born near Milam, Texas, to Gheron and Irona Bragg Davidson. He grew up in Sabine County, then served nine years in the U.S. Air Force and was a Korean War veteran. Afterwards he attended the University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1957 and a Master of Science in Aero-Space Engineering in 1961. While working at NASA, King invented the weightless chamber in which the astronauts trained for the first moon landing. Later working with Bell Helicopter and LTV Lockheed Martin, he was on the team that developed the Osprey dual flight plane now used by the Marines and led the team that developed the Gazelle helicopter with the vertical tail prop. King retired to his home in Sabine County in 1978, where he operated a heating and air/conditioning business for many years. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Ingrid Broughton Davidson, his daughters; Cheryl Crayton and her husband Donald of Conroe, Kelley Davidson of Portland, OR, his son Jay Davidson of Nacogdoches; his step-son Ebb Flynt and his wife Holly, his step-daughter Rebecca Flynt, and his cousin Billy Barlow and his wife Vernon Lee. King is also survived by his grandchildren; Michael and Katlyn, great grandchildren; Hunter and Kaylie. His step grandchildren; Grace, Katie and Conner. King was preceded in death by his parents Theron and Irona Davidson, his daughter Castle Davidson, his sister Glenis King and his brother Bill Davidson. There will be a private memorial service.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 17:35:29 +0000
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