Walter Davidson Obituary

WALTER FRANK
DAVIDSON
August 27, 1956
July 28, 2025

Air Force Major (retired) Walter Frank Davidson left this world for his eternal life with God on 28 July 2025 in Colorado Springs, passing peacefully into God's loving embrace with Cheri and their son Kyle by his side.
Walt grew up in Monroe, Connecticut, the youngest son of Edward and Ruth Davidson. He graduated from the US Air Force Academy with honors in 1979. Walt was a brilliant Electrical Engineering student who was consistently at the top of the Dean's List, and always ready to help cadets who struggled with the Academy's heavy academic load.
The Air Force put Walt on a path he would follow throughout his life, on the leading edge of technology in service to our country. He was a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Air Force Test Pilot School, the most challenging and prestigious program in the Air Force. As a Flight Test Engineer Walt led the engineering effort on numerous classified programs, which he continued after retiring from the Air Force in 1995 and going to work for MIT Lincoln Laboratory.
In 2010 Walt married Cheri, his rock, soulmate, and true love. There is no doubt that Walt's ability to beat cancer three times was due to the love they shared, the strength Cheri gave him, and his will to live and be with her.
Walt worked for years in classified locations on classified programs, where his intellect and unique engineering skills advanced our nation's technological edge, saved American lives, and contributed to our national security in ways few people will ever know. Walt, who was always a humble man, expressed his life and service one day as follows:
"I have chosen a life in the shadows and most of the time operate unseen in the night. I do a job that few know about but I seem to have a unique talent for. When I have doubts, I remember a saying: "They sleep peacefully in their beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do them harm." How could I choose to not help those that are defending us?"
Walt is survived by his wife Cheri, son Kyle, brother Ralph, and sister Edna. A celebration of his life will be conducted at 1 P.M. on Friday, November 7th, 2025 at the Air Force Academy Community Chapel in Colorado Springs, CO. Inurnment with full military honors will follow at the US Air Force Academy Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute or the US Air Force Academy Foundation.