GEORGE JACKSON

JACKSON George Henry Jackson, a longtime El Paso businessman, died peacefully at home Feb. 24, 2012, at age 87. He was born June 26, 1924, in El Paso, the third child of George Barnard and Ruth Deane Jackson. He attended Dudley School and graduated from El Paso High in 1942. In his second year of engineering studies at Texas A&M, George joined the U.S. Army, and served during World War II as a combat engineer and first lieutenant in the European Theater. After the war, he completed his engineering degree and returned to El Paso, where he learned to fly and began a long career in business. He flew private planes until he was 85, and continued working until his last day. In the 1950s and '60s, George was a partner in Herlin Engineering, and Coleman and Jackson Engineering, before starting his own business, G.H. Jackson Construction, in 1968. He built homes and apartments across El Paso for fifteen years before moving into commercial projects, including Bassett Self Storage and Rojas Industrial Park. In 1952, he married Margaret Matkin Jackson. They were married for 49 years, until her death in 2001. He is survived by their three children: Walker (Maggie) Jackson and children Shaun (Asma), Amy, Lauren and Taylor; Jennifer (Charlie) Beckham and children Trey and Cameron; and Nancy (Manuel) Rivera and children Wick, Elliott and Sarah Hoover, and Manny and Frank Rivera; and five great grandchildren. In 2003, he married Ann Cameron Adams, who survives him, along with her children Cameron (Anna) Adams, and Gates Adams; along with their grandchildren Zoë Adams Waldstein; and Presley and Gates William Adams. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his sisters: Mary Jackson Hellums in 2011 and Sue Jackson Polk in 2003. Family and the Lord were always the first priority in his life, and over his long career. George was active in many business and civic groups. At the Church of St. Clement, he served in the vestry as junior and senior warden. He was president of the El Paso chapter of the American Red Cross, the El Paso Association of Builders, Texas State Professional Engineers, and the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers. He was also active in the Kiwanis Club, Del Norte Club, and served as president of Los Caballeros. Always an active sportsman, George enjoyed golfing, hunting and fishing, served on the ski patrol in Ruidoso and Cloudcroft, was a scuba diver until age 81, and skied and flew until he was 85. For decades, he recorded many family holidays and special occasions in home movies. A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Church of St. Clement, 810 N. Campbell, with members of Los Caballeros serving as honorary pallbearers. The family asks that memorial donations be made to the Church of St. Clement, 810 N. Campbell, El Paso TX 79902; or War Eagles Air Museum, 8012 Airport Rd., Santa Teresa, NM 88008. Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, TX 79912. www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com