Walter F. Davisson
9-23-1941  -  7-15-2022

We are sad to announce the passing of Walter Davisson, age 80.  Walter was born in St. Louis in 1941, the son of Walter F. Davisson, Sr. and Helen Fischer Davisson.

Walter graduated from St. Louis University High School (1958) and St. Louis University Medical School (1965), where he completed his degree cum laude.  He was the youngest member of his medical school graduating class, having skipped first grade and his senior year of college.  His colleagues remember him as being the smartest one in his class.

He married Sharon Ryan in 1963 and they have three lovely daughters and three wonderful sons-in-law Patricia (Eugene) Rankin of St. Augustine, Florida, Valerie Davisson (Matthew Krummell) of Newton, Massachusetts and Ann (David) Book of Chesterfield, Missouri.

After serving in the United States Army at Fort Hood, Texas for two years (1969-1971), Walter lived and worked in Jefferson City, Missouri for 30 years as an Ophthalmologist in private practice.  He loved the short commute to his office and the family farm where he cut hay, raised horses, and generally played at being a farmer.  Walter loved his Ophthalmology patients and readily accepted their gifts of crawdads, homegrown tomatoes, zucchini, and canned goods, and advice on hunting and fishing.

After his retirement, Sharon insisted they move back to St. Louis to be near friends and family, but Walter insisted on moving to Florida.  As with most negotiations in Walter's life, his compromise was to live in Florida nine months a year and in Chesterfield three months a year.  Walter's love for warm weather and sunshine was surpassed only by his adoration for avoiding snow, which he commonly referred to as "that four letter word."

Walter's parents sacrificed to send him to Catholic schools.  His achievements in high school allowed him to earn a full scholarship to St. Louis University as an undergraduate.  His heartfelt gratitude for his education was a central theme of his life.  He and Sharon endowed scholarships at St. Louis University High School, Nerinx Hall High School, and St. Louis University Chaifetz School of Business.  His crowning achievement was to endow a Chair of Ophthalmology at St. Louis University Medical School, the first endowed chair at the medical school.  In honor of their parents, these scholarships create opportunities for future students.

Walter is also survived by his siblings, Kathleen (James) Baalmann and Thomas J. Davisson, his in-laws Kathleen Ryan-Tucker, Thomas (Katherine) Ryan, and his fabulous grandchildren Natalie, Zachary, John, Brigid, Thomas, Simon, Ryan, and Mitchell.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

St. Louis U. Medical School - Office of Development Adam Hutton (scholarships), 221 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103 or St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 7900 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34241 or a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held at Ortmann-Stipanovich, 12444 Olive Blvd, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 from 4pm to 8pm on Friday, July 22, 2022.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 11:00am at Incarnate Word Parish, 13416 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017 with a reception following.

In the spirit of Walter's wishes, his body was cremated and a private burial will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis County, MO.

A celebration of life will be held in Sarasota, Florida at a later date.

Cards and letters may be sent to Sharon Davisson, 230 S. Brentwood Blvd, #14E, St. Louis, MO  63105.