Frank Jackson |
| Posted 2009-11-22 by Sharla |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, November 18, 2009, Page A-12 Frank Jackson passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, Nov. 10. Frank was born June 7, 1916 in Drexel Hill, Penn., to Frank Hagy Jackson and Katie Dreisbach Jackson. He had two younger sisters - Kathryn, who was born in 1919 and died the same year, and Jean, who was born in 1924. Though Frank spent his last year and a half surrounded by the loving and caring staff of the Grandview Care Center in Sun City West, Wickenburg was the town he had come to love in his retirement years. Frank and his wife Betty first came to Wickenburg to visit some friends back in the 1970s, and it wasn’t long before they returned and began the yearly journey to Arizona from Rochester, N.Y. In many ways, it was easy to leave the harsh winter snow and cold of western New York behind in exchange for the abundant sunshine and blue skies of Wickenburg. Soon the beauty of the desert Southwest and the charm of Wickenburg combined with the warmth of growing friendships resulted in ever-longer stays. Predictably in the end, Wickenburg was the place Frank and Betty were going to call home all year long. As mentioned above, Frank was not originally from upstate New York, but got his start in life in Drexel Hill, Penn., just outside Philadelphia. He grew up and attended school in the area, although the family made a cross-country journey to California for a few years when he was a young boy. The family returned to Drexel Hill in time for Frank to complete his high school education at Upper Darby High School. Though both of his parents worked in the banking business, Frank, or “Bud” as he was known in those days, showed an early interest in math, science and technology in general. He was fascinated by amateur radio and all things electronic. He did well in school and was invited to pursue his higher education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. He distinguished himself in the honors program and graduated in 1938 as an electrical engineer. His honors included Tau Beta Pi and associate of Sigma Xi. Frank later did additional course work at the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology, as well as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. After a brief stint working for Holtzer-Cabot Electric, Frank was hired to work for the Kimberly Clark Corporation in Niagara Falls. Though trained as a first-rate electrical engineer, his duties focused on personnel and safety issues at the Niagara Falls Plant. After more than two years, the call of engineering and research made itself clear, and Frank joined the Eastman Kodak Company where he remained until retirement. Kodak’s main facilities are located in Rochester, N.Y., so it was there that Frank moved with his bride Betty, who he had met while working in Niagara Falls, and who he married on Oct. 26, 1940. Their first son Robert was born in 1943 and their second son Douglas was born in 1947. The war years gave Frank an opportunity to do research and development directly related to the war effort. After the war, he continued to work on a number of engineering and research projects, mostly related to government contracts, and before his retirement he was the laboratory head of the Aerial Photography Lab in the Kodak Research Laboratories. Much of his work contributed to key areas of national defense and even played a role in such high profile contexts as the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis. He participated in several professional organizations and societies including the Society of Photographic Scientists and Engineers, the American Society of Photogrammetry, and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. Beyond the boundaries of his professional life, Frank enjoyed a variety of activities including ham radio, nature photography, music, as well as hiking and boating in the Adirondacks of northern New York. The move to Wickenburg opened up whole new vistas of nature photography, so the hours devoted to capturing the perfect lighting on a fragile forest wild flower were soon exchanged for as many hours waiting to capture the same perfection on a fleeting cactus bloom. The local camera club also proved to be a great outlet for sharing the fruits of his photographic labors and gathering new inspiration. Frank was always active in the life of the local church, wherever he was. He could regularly be found teaching Bible classes, singing in the choir, and helping develop interest and support for missions outreach at home and abroad. Frank’s discussion classes were much appreciated, and he kept up with his pattern of faithful preparation and engaging presentation until well into his 91st year. Two of his life goals were to be a good student of the Scriptures and to serve his Savior faithfully in the midst of a local church community. After moving to Wickenburg permanently, Frank and Betty became members of the First Presbyterian Church, but also enjoyed the many friends they made at Calvary Baptist. Even as his health began to decline, Dad desired to keep on making some contribution to the life of the church, so he did his best to support the bass section of the choir and kept the light in his study burning so he would have something new to share when given the opportunity. As a family, we are most grateful for the love and fellowship both Dad and Mom experienced in the midst of their church family here in Wickenburg. Frank was preceded in death by his wife Betty, his parents Frank and Katie, his sister Kathryn and a grandson Richard. He is survived by his sister Jean Ogren, his son Robert and wife Mary, his son Douglas and wife Linda, grandchildren Mark, David, Dana, Kari Avery, Lisa and Mikael, as well as great-grandson Camden Alexander Avery. Though Frank’s earthly remains will be placed in final rest next to those of his wife Betty in Bergen, N.Y., we are assured that they are joined in heavenly harmony in the presence of their Savior above. A memorial service and celebration of Frank’s life is planned for Dec. 12 at 10:30 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church of Wickenburg. Those wishing to honor Frank’s influence in their lives may give to the First Presbyterian Church Mission Fund earmarked for purchase of Bibles for Mexican churches. |
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