Claude V. Jackson, Jr., of St. Ann, Missouri, died peacefully on Sunday, December 2, 2018, at the age of 94. Claude is survived by Betty Sue Jackson, the love of his life and wife of 69 years; his son Claude V. “Sandy” Jackson III and wife Marcia of Florissant, Missouri; a daughter, Linda Sue Jackson, and her wife Karen Newman of Wylie, Texas; and sister Ola Virginia (Thomas) Faulkner of Jonesboro, Arkansas and several nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude V. and Emma Edith Jackson (nee Gillespie) of Jonesboro, Arkansas; sisters Margaret Kathleen (Bert) Henson; Edith Maurine (Cecil) Province; Sarah Elizabeth (Homer) Momany; and Lois Gillespie (Raymond) Gordon.
Claude V. Jackson, Jr. was born February 28, 1924, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the only boy with five sisters and the next to youngest of the family. His father was a lineman for the city, a fireman, and an electrician. His mother was a homemaker. He graduated from high school in 1942 and entered the U. S. Marine Corps on January 7, 1943, and was sent to boot camp in San Diego, Ca. He was then sent to Navy Pier in Chicago for Aviation Machinist Mate training then sent to Hawaii and on to Midway Island in the central Pacific, where he spent 18 months. He was discharged in late 1945. After discharge he returned to Jonesboro and obtained employment as an assistant to the manager of the cafeteria at the Army Depot in Memphis, Tennessee. He stayed with the manager as his assistant when they moved to the University Club of Memphis a year later. From there they both moved to Washington D.C. to manage four fast food chain restaurants known as Toddle House. He was finally given his own restaurant to manage in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was there that Claude met and married his wife Betty, who had come to work for him. In January 1950 they returned to Jonesboro in hopes of starting a small restaurant of their own. Claude instead found employment working for Ozark Air Lines. His wife found employment as an aid to a veterinarian. He was hired by Ozark in August 1951 and sent to Memphis to get his weather observer’s license. He became an agent and was appointed manager at Jonesboro, a position he held until September 1954 when Ozark closed the station. He then transferred to Marion/Herrin, Illinois where he remained until 1959 when transferred to Ozark’s general office in St. Louis. He retired on June 30, 1984. Following retirement Claude enjoyed gardening, travel and baseball. He was a member of Fee Fee Baptist Church for many years.
Services: Visitation at Alexander-White-Mullen Funeral Home, 11101 Saint Charles Rock Road, St. Ann, Mo. on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 4-7 p.m. Private graveside service. Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the Ritenour Co-Care Food Pantry, P.O. Box 142542, Overland, Mo. Interment at Fee Fee Cemetery. Expressions of condolence may be offered at alexanderstlouis.com.
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