Obituary of Billy Mack Davidson

Billy Mack Davidson, 86, passed away Thursday, May 21, 2015 Billy was born December 31, 1928, in Dothan, AL. His childhood was not to be an easy one. He mother died in when Billy was three years old. His father could not care for him and earn a living so Billy was taken to live with relatives. For the next several years, he went from one relatives home to another. Several years passed and his father came to get him and take him to Augusta, GA to live with him and his new wife. It was a tumultuous home life but he had a kind step mother and a new half brother that he loved dearly. At the age of 20, he met his soon to be wife, Faye Smith who was 15 years old. He signed up with the US Air Force and left for boot camp at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Soon after his return, and before his was given his assignment in Okinawa, he and Faye were married May 28, 1950. He was overseas for a year. His career in the Air Force took him to Biloxi, Mississippi and then transferred to McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL. They had their first child, Mike after being married for two years. The second child, Terri came along while they were stationed at McDill. Soon after she was born, Billy+óGé¼Gäós tour of duty had come to an end. Rumors were spreading that there was a new program all about space exploration at Cape Canaveral. They were in need of hundreds of able bodied people who had any talent whatsoever related to engineering, flying, science, mechanical maintenance and Air Force were considered. It was 1953 and Billy decided that he would not enlist but instead he would seek employment at the Cape. He wanted to be a part of space exploration. He moved his young family of four to Rockledge, Fl when he got the news he had been selected to work at Cape Canaveral. It was an exciting time. Monkey+óGé¼Gäós in space, man in space and then man walking on the moon. Some of the first computers were part of the every day job. They took up huge rooms. Mainframes were what they were called. Wow, how far technology has come since the 1950+óGé¼Gäós. Much of today+óGé¼Gäós conveniences and technology are a direct result of the space program. Billy was part of the intensive engineer training that many went through in order to keep up with the technology of the space program. After working all day, classes were held in the large hangers, taught by some of the worlds top engineers. Unbeknownst to those who attended those classes this would become the beginnings of the Brevard Engineering College which later become the renowned Florida Institute of Technology+óGé¼-ª FIT. Yes, FIT was started at Cape Canaveral in the airplane hangers and Billy attended the very first classes. Many years later, FIT offered him an honorary engineering degree. He worked for several of the big companies but the two main ones were Martin and North American-Rockwell being the last two he was employed with. His job was in the blockhouse. They were the people who pushed all the buttons that eventually made the missiles blastoff. He worked the Gemini launches and then the Apollo launches. His career spanned from 1953 to 1970. In 1968 space exploration had come to a near halt due to politics and funding. If he was to stay in the space program, he would have to move his family which was now five with the addition of a third child, Ronald, back in 1957. The family was living in Satellite Beach and would have to move to Texas. His children were now teenagers and Faye said no to Texas. Since the space program had become an unstable future, Billy decided it was time to launch his own business. After doing much research, he determined that the business that had a low start up cost with a good profit margin was something in automotive. He opened a tire and automotive repair gas station with one of his buddies from the Cape. Because Brevard County had turned into a near ghost town due to the layoffs at the Cape from the shutdown of space programs, the business was started in West Palm. After a year of driving home on the weekends, his partner bought him out and Billy opened his own tire and automotive repair shop in Melbourne. Davidson+óGé¼Gäós Tire Town was opened in 1971 with his son Mike who had just graduated from high school in 1970. The business grew and two more stores were opened. Eventually the Davidson family grew to include a daughter-law, Diane, Mike+óGé¼Gäós wife, and their three children; Joel, Lisa and Wendy. Terri, Billy+óGé¼Gäós daughter married as well. Many years went by and a great grand-child, Ian, and two more son-in-laws were added to the family. Two of the three stores were sold and Billy retired when he became too ill to work after being diagnosed with Parkinson+óGé¼Gäós and a few years later with Lymphoma for which he underwent chemotherapy. The original Davidson+óGé¼Gäós Tire Town in Melbourne, closed and then sold in 2014. Other than his family, one of the highlights of his life was the years he and his wife were involved in Harbor City Baptist Church. Billy served as a Deacon and his wife Faye taught Sunday School. Billy and Faye loved their church and the many people they met there. They were blessed with many close friendships. Viewing will be from 10:00 am to 11:00 am followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am on Friday, May 22, 2015 at Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care, 1001 South Hickory Street, Melbourne. Burial with Air Force Honors will follow the service at Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge.