Leslie D. "Les" Davidson

Leslie Duane Davidson passed into Glory to sing with the heavenly choir on August 13, 2021. Les was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma to Lester and Alpha Davidson on December 10, 1931. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Ruetta, and siblings Darwin Davidson, Grady Davidson, Mae Peavler, Flora Lynn, Alonzo Davidson, and Raymond Davidson. He is survived by his four sons and daughters-in-law Steven and Melinda Davidson, Phillip and Leslie Ann Davidson, Jeffrey and Jerri Davidson, and Craig and Charlotte Davidson; his ten grandchildren and spouses Brian Davidson and wife Sherry, Bradley Davidson and wife Rachel, Brent Davidson and wife Andrea, Sarah Duc and husband Adam, Christina Arrona and husband Ruben, Jeremy Davidson and wife Lindsey, Jennifer Ward and husband James, Caroline Fogle and husband Matthew, Angela Davidson, and Daniel Davidson and wife Alyson; and his 11 great-grandchildren Westen and Elizabeth Davidson, Olivia and Zoe Davidson, Avery Davidson, Katherine and Evelyn Arrona, Parker and Sawyer Davidson, Gwendolyn Ward, and Aria Fogle; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Les graduated from Chickasha High School in 1949 and the University of Oklahoma in 1957. He married the love of his life, Ruetta Dutton, on August 4, 1951, and they spent most of the next two years in Alexandria, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi while he served in the U.S. Air Force. They later moved to Norman, Oklahoma while Les attended O.U. from 1953 to 1957 and obtained his bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, Les and Ruetta lived in Glendive, Montana for two years before returning to Chickasha in 1959. They moved back to Norman permanently in 1962, but in retirement spent summers on their property near Durango, Colorado.

After working briefly as an oilfield logging engineer in Montana, Les spent the remainder of his career as a civilian electrical engineer working for the military at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. In addition, Les served as a bi-vocational music minister at various Baptist churches throughout his adult life. He and Ruetta were charter members of Bethel Baptist Church in Norman, where he served as Minister of Music for 25 years. After retiring, he also led worship at Vallecito Church in Colorado during the summers for many years. He first led music as a teenager and, in total, was a worship leader for almost 60 years. In retirement, Les sang and toured with the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma locally and in China, Australia, Armenia, and Israel. He was also a deacon and served in numerous other capacities at each of the churches where he attended.

Les is affectionately remembered for his abiding love for his family, his friends, and the Lord. He was unswervingly faithful to his beloved Ruetta throughout their nearly 69 years of marriage and continued to tenderly care for her through her final years of failing health. He was a wise and gentle father to each of his sons, providing them encouragement and guidance unique to their individual needs while modeling Christian manhood for them all. He adored his daughters-in-law, doted on his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and anchored his extended family. Most importantly, Les was a diligent and faithful servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to the very end. Some of his last words were to haltingly sing “Amazing Grace.” There was joy in Heaven at his arrival, but Les will be dearly missed by his family and friends still on earth until we join him there.

Visitation with the family will be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, August 27, 2021, in the Fellowship Hall at Bethel Baptist Church, 1717 W Lindsey Street, Norman, OK. A memorial service will be held at Bethel Baptist Church at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 28, 2021. The family requests that all COVID-19 protocols be observed. The memorial service will also be live-streamed at www.bbcnorman.com and the church’s Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Les Davidson Memorial Fund at Bethel Baptist Church to benefit the Bethel Music Ministry and Vallecito Church.