Virginia N. Davison

Virginia Nell (Rentz) Davison, 93, of Tiffin, passed away May 12, 2022 at The Willows senior care center in Tiffin.

Virginia was born September 3, 1928 in Valdosta, Georgia to Lyman Carter Rentz and Emma Olive (Knight) Rentz.  

Virginia grew up in southern Georgia with her brother Lyman, raised primarily by her mother after her father died from appendicitis when she was 11 years old.  Her mother stressed the importance of education during her upbringing and Virginia excelled, emerging from rural Georgia to earn her undergraduate degree at Mercer College and a Masters degree in music from Columbia University in New York City.  Virginia also studied at the Juilliard School while in New York.

Ken and Virginia met at Heidelberg when they were both teaching there. They were married at Heidelberg on June 14, 1959 at the music conservatory.

Virginia was an associate professor of voice, teaching full-time 1955-1960 and then part-time 1960-1962 and 1968-1990 while raising her two boys.  She had a beautiful soprano voice and was recruited to teach at Heidelberg by the late Ferris Ohl after he heard her sing in New York City.

To say that Ken and Virginia loved Heidelberg and Tiffin would be an understatement. They were both heavily involved with the college and their students far beyond their duties as teachers.  They continually supported and promoted Heidelberg while they were still working and throughout their retirement years. They cared for their students on a personal level, genuinely interested in their life success, quite often inviting them to their home for a meal together.

The Davison's were active in their church, the First Presbyterian Church of Tiffin, for decades until age-related issues prevented them from attending.

Ken and Virginia were preceded in death by their parents and Virginia's brother Lyman Carter Rentz Jr. Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Robert Edwin Davison and Madonna Lynn Davison of Phoenixville, PA, son Richard Allen Davison of Tiffin, and a granddaughter, Melissa Marie Davison, currently residing in Thailand.

A celebration of life ceremony for Ken and Virginia will be held June 4, 2022 at Heidelberg University. Visitation will begin at 2pm at Herbster Chapel in Pfleiderer Center followed by the celebration of life service at 3pm. A reception with light refreshments will be held afterwards at the student center next to the chapel. Parking is available in Lot F on Rebecca St. Handicap Parking is available between Campus Center and Pfleiderer Center. Both buildings are accessible.