Dr. John Robert Davidson DDS

Dr. John Robert Davidson, DDS, 78, of Peru, passed away 6:05 P.M. Wednesday, at his residence. He was born in Peru on April 28, 1947, the son of John Howard and Kathryn (Loughran) Davidson. Bob married Linda Seasock at the First Baptist Church in Peru on Oct 22, 1977, and she preceded him in death on Aug. 31, 1997. He then married Catherine Louise Needham in Edinburg, TX and she survives. Bob graduated from Purdue University where he attended the Pre-Dental program and then went on to UCLA School of Dentistry as a Regents Scholar. He conceived, developed and administered the UCLA American Indian Dental Project for three years which provided extensive dental services for the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona, free of charge, using volunteer dental students from UCLA. He spent one academic year at Ferris State College/ University, in Big Rapids, MI as a Professor of Clinical Dentistry and a Professor of Community Dentistry and served as Director of Clinics. During that year he was recruited to move to Peru, Indiana and return to private practice. Dr. Davidson was a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, Indiana Dental Association, San Fernando Valley Dental Society, Wabash Valley Dental Society and was an Associate Member of the Chicago Dental Society. He was an Associate Fellow of the American College of Oral Implantology, a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology, a Diplomat of the International Congress of Oral Implantology and a Charter and Founding Member of the Indiana Society of Forensic Odontologists. He was, also, a Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Dentistry and a Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Examiners. Dr. Davidson has been listed in the following: "Who's Who in America", "Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare", "Who's Who in the Midwest", "Emerging Leaders in America" and "Who's Who in Executives and Professionals". He performed the first oral implants in the State of Indiana and because the patients mostly stayed in the area he was able to follow their cases for years. These studies were instrumental in perfecting the techniques of modern oral implantology. He, also, perfected techniques for transplanting teeth to different locations in the same patient and reimplanting teeth that had been knocked out. Dr. Davidson has been a member of the First Baptist Church in Peru since his baptism on Easter Sunday in 1956. He was active in Peru and Miami County community affairs and was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, MENSA, Peru Elks Club, Peru Rotary Club, Peru Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Miami County and the Peru Utility Service Board. Dr. Davidson was named Miami County Citizen of the Year in 1978. Bob was a life-long horseman and was born a few weeks before his first horse was foaled. He was an avid SCUBA diver as well as a dedicated wild-life photographer and hunter. Bob was also a prolific stained – glass hobbyist. He traveled extensively from the Hawaiian Islands to eastern Europe, northern Canada to southern Belize and most of the Caribbean. Surviving in addition to his wife Catherine are his children James (Monica) Milwaukee, WI; Jennifer (Todd) Beaufort, Raleigh-Durham, NC; Kathy Davidson, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; John Richard (Loretta) Davidson, Grand Rapids, MI; a cousin, Craig Kelley (Lisa) Davidson, Park City, Utah; six grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 22 years, Linda; his brother, Mike Davidson; his nephew, Thomas Davidson and a dear cousin, Susanne (McCarthy) Holmes. A Masonic service celebrating the life of Dr. John Robert Davidson, DDS will be held 11:30 A.M. Friday, June 20, 2025, at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home, 84 West Main St., Peru. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Family and friends will gather from 10:00 – 11:30 A.M. at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made through the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home to Miami County Helping Hands.