A two-vehicle crash Sunday in Greene County killed two of the area's most involved leaders, both of whom were found by state police dead at the scene.

William R. Davis, 63, and Kathleen A. Hamilton Davis, 58 -- a husband and wife who shared a law practice in downtown Waynesburg -- were driving on Interstate 79 in Washington Township when another car veered abruptly to the right, sending both over a guardrail and a steep embankment.

The driver of the other car, Deborah Gordon, 24, of  Leesburg, Va., was taken by helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., where she was in good condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The Davises, parents of four, had met at Dickinson College. They'd been married for almost 38 years, living all the while in Waynesburg. And during that time, the arc of their careers reflected what friends and family describe as devotion to each other.

Ms. Davis worked for 20 years as a professor and administrator at Waynesburg College, eventually becoming vice president for academic affairs, a school spokesperson said. Suddenly, mid-career, she U-turned. She enrolled in law school, graduating from West Virginia University in 1999 -- the same year that one of her children finished law school.

Mr. Davis had already been a member of the Greene County Bar Association since 1969. As is necessary in the small Waynesburg legal community, he handled all varieties of cases. But he specialized in real estate and estate planning. He practiced alone, in an office on High Street.

That is, until just the right law school grad persuaded him to expand.

"She and my dad practiced together after that," said Cami L. Davis Jenkins, the Davises' daughter. "They were best friends, they really were. For a lot of people, maybe they couldn't work with a spouse, but they were great at it."

The two complemented each other, those in the Waynesburg legal community said. Though the two shared many interests -- both loved skiing and traveling -- as lawyers, Ms. Davis appeared more often in the courtroom, often for divorce and custody cases. Mr. Davis focused more on behind-the-scenes work.

"But I did notice that when Kathy had a case that would be more demanding or high-profile, Bill would be sitting there," said Kirk King, a Waynesburg lawyer who called Mr. Davis a mentor. "Maybe he wouldn't be in the counsel chair, but he'd be there supporting her."

Both rooted their careers -- and lives -- in education. Both were involved in the Community Foundation of Greene County. Mr. Davis served from 1973 until 1991 on the Waynesburg College board of trustees; Ms. Davis taught English and education classes, eventually chairing the education department.

"Kathy listened to people, and she really heard them," said Jane Owen, who directs the college's counseling center and knew Ms. Davis through their book club. "She found worth in everybody."

In addition to their daughter, Mr. and Ms. Davis are survived by their other children, Sean R. Davis, W. Ryan Davis and Aryn D. Davis Wadadli, and six grandchildren.

Mr. Davis also is survived by his father, H. Richard Davis, and his sister, Mitzi Bailey. Ms. Davis is survived by her brother, D. Dale Hamilton, and her sisters, Lynne Harkreader and Jan Ogley.

Friends will be received at Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home, Waynesburg, tomorrow from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A public memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg.