Lt. Col. Dale E. Jackson USAF (Ret.)

Lt Col Dale E Jackson, USAF (Ret), 84, of Sun City, AZ passed away on November 16, 2012 in Peoria, AZ. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Daniel Jackson, two sisters, Aubrey Nally and Wanda Read, and a niece, Rhonda Hoien. Dale is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Della Jackson; children Dale Jackson Jr., Linda (Homer) Creager and Judy (Richard) Gates; five grandchildren, two great grandchildren and two great grandchildren “on the way”. He also is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Dale led a remarkable life, a humble and honorable man in every step of his journey. As a young boy in Iowa, he saw his first airplane fly overhead and it was to become his lifelong passion. He worked to earn enough money for flying lessons at many odd jobs including work at theaters and the local town taxi. Once he turned 18, he enlisted in The U.S. Army Air Corp, his first career. It was during his initial training at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana that he met his beautiful wife, Della Lightfoot. Courtship involved travel on a boat, train and bus each time just to see her. They would begin their married life in South Dakota at Ellsworth AFB. As his military career developed they would have the opportunity to move and live in many places.

Dale performed many duties in the Air Force including tornado chasing and weather tracking in Bermuda, deployments to Laos, Thailand and Vietnam and in the Pentagon on the Joint Chief of Staff. Dale retired from the Air Force in 1974 after 28 ½ years of service. He flew many planes, some for their first flights. Some of his favorites included the Peacemaker (B-36), the Flying Fortress (B-17), the Stratofortress (B-52) and the Gooney Bird (C-47). He enjoyed many trips to the Pima Air Museum in Tucson to see them and reminisce.

His second career began in Sioux Falls for an aviation business at Joe Foss field. He was an instructor, but also had the privilege of transporting state officials and business executives on both business and pleasure trips. In addition to the day to day flying joys, he worked with a local hospital in designing and beginning the first air ambulance service with a focus on neonatal and critical maternity cases. The service expanded and still works today to transport patients in need of high risk medical care.

His third career was as a simulator instructor for Flight Safety International. He worked at Flight Safety for 19 years. He loved meeting and teaching pilots in safe practices for flight. He wanted every student to have success. He received letters from students from around the globe thanking him for his kind manner and patience. He never shared these, though we discovered he had kept them in his small desk at home. Night or day, he was ready to go to work. He loved to fly!

Dale and Della had three children; Linda Lou born in Rapid City, Dale Ethan born in Bermuda and Judy Lynn born at Ellsworth AFB. He took great pleasure in being a father and grandfather, providing endless fun and adventures. He was a great story teller and loved to laugh as well. At every family gathering there was a fair amount of teasing, laughter, card playing and a guaranteed trip to see an airplane.

Throughout his life he demonstrated love for his family, his flying and his country. But his greatest love was for the Lord. He attended as well as taught Bible Study Fellowship for many years and was active in his local church. He lived as a man of integrity and great faith. Those who met him met a friend and man of his word. We have been blessed beyond measure. While he will be deeply missed, we rejoice in the knowledge that he stands eternally in heaven, free from this life’s pain and we are confident that one day we will see him again.

“God arms me with strength, and He makes my way perfect”. Psalm 18:32