Charlene Wilhelmien Davidson

Ms. Charlene Wilhelmien Davidson, 84, passed peacefully from a life well lived, on Feb. 24th, 2022. A native of Colorado Springs, CO., early on she became seriously ill with rheumatic fever. 1944, doctors advised relocation to San Diego. Travelling in a wartime car, homebuilt trailer, many delays enroute, crossing the multi RR tracks entering Mesa, the town abruptly became home. Much improved, at age 11 Charlene began acting 24/7 as family cook, a mid-western/ frontier heritage evident in her most excellent fruit pies. Vying in performance, a marvelous talent for gift wrapping. Voracious reader, ready conversationalist, birder, warm, uncomplaining, a practical girl, she could fix a leaky toilet, care for her car, travel independently. She enjoyed her family genealogy, going back to the Mayflower and beyond. Graduating Mesa High in 1957, then from Lamson College as a bookkeeper, her life’s work. Alternately, for some years she and a close friend partnered in a Tempe music store, she well managed the old Mesa Museums gift shop, for years leading the Mesa Laubach Program, teaching adults to read. Ever with a dog, she was a young families dream of a maiden “auntie.” Assisting in every way, delighting in her niece and nephew as a loving, constant companion, guardian and teacher. Predeceased by her parents Peggy and Glen Davidson, she is survived by her devoted. loving, friend and sister, Carol Abrams, brother-inlaw Alvin Abrams, treasured niece Rina Abrams/ Dunn, Judith Moody, nephews Micah Abrams, David Baughman, grand nieces Liora and Joesie Abrams/Dunn, grand nephew Ezra Abrams.