Billy Frank Jackson
d. March 3, 2008
Date Died: March 03, 2008
RHOME -- Billy Frank Jackson, 89, a retired Navy pilot went to be with our Lord on Monday, Mar. 3, 2008 at his home in Rhome. Funeral: 2 p.m. Thursday at Christian-Hawkins Funeral Chapel. Burial: Aurora Cemetery. Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday. Rev. James Hurst will officiate. Pallbearers will be: Rick Henderson, Tom Peterson, John Wayne Peterson, Jonathan Weaver, Walter Ransom, and Gary Kopp. Honorary pallbearers will be Ernie Matthews and Leon Shipley.
Billy Frank Jackson was born on May 27, 1918 in Lamesa, Texas, the son of John Chase and Mattie Elizabeth (Hudgins) Jackson.
In 1940 he started flying as an enlisted pilot with the U.S. Navy. He had more than 16,000 hours of flying time and flew combat missions in WWII and Korea. He retired in 1957 and in 1964 he transferred to Sharpe Fort Worth Army depot to become the depots first civilian test pilot. In 1972 he retired as a chief civilian test pilot. Mr. Jackson was a former member of the Blue Angels, a member of the Silver Eagles Pilot Association and VFW Post 10374.
He married Doris McGoodwin on September 25, 1964 in New Mexico.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Becky Fite, 7 brothers, and 2 sisters.
Left behind to cherish his memory are: his wife of 43 years, Doris Jackson of Rhome; son, Anthony Jackson and wife Betty of Plant City, Florida; daughters, Nancy Berry of Rhome, ReDeanna Hines and husband Butch of Rhome; 6 grandchildren, Mikeul, Ronnie, Jennifer, Stephanie, Sidney, and Stacey; 11 great grandchildren, Tony, Chaz, Miranda, Areanna, Mikella, A.J., Bailey, Makayla, Devon, Kyla, and Vanesa; 1 great great grandchild, Hailey; numerous nieces and nephews..
Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home Boyd, 940-433-5310