Richard Ford Jackson

Richard Ford Jackson, known to friends and family as Dick, was reunited with his wife Anne and entered the presence of the Lord at the age of 86 on Sunday, June 2, 2024, passing away at his home in Midland, Texas, following a mercifully brief struggle with cancer.

Richard was born in Bexar County (San Antonio), Texas on March 5, 1938, to parents Looney Hythe Jackson and Mercedes Thelma Jackson. His family moved to Cockrell Hill, Texas, in 1941 where he grew up in a humble two-story home alongside his revered older brother Vernon.

Richard graduated at the top of his class, earning the school Key of Knowledge award, from Sunset High School in Dallas, Texas, in 1956 and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas in Austin in 1961, graduating Summa Cum Laude. From there he went on to receive a Master of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1962. Following graduation, Richard was a loyal chemical engineer for Mobil Oil for 29 years until 1992.

Richard taught Sunday school alongside Thelma Anne Reed at Cockrell Hill Baptist Church, soon marrying Anne, the love of his life, on August 30, 1963. Richard and Anne enjoyed a marriage of 53 years before her passing in 2017. Richard and Anne brought up a family of three children, Richard (Russell), Gregory, and Charla. Though he and his family lived most of their lives in Dallas, Texas, Richard’s work with Mobil Oil took him to assignments in Germany, Norway, and Saudi Arabia, not to mention many temporary assignments abroad. Richard and Anne took advantage of their time overseas, traveling to as many as 60 countries around the world.

Richard worked for Saudi Aramco from 1992 until his retirement in 1998. After retirement, Richard and Anne moved to Wimberley, Texas, where they both made good friends, enjoyed volunteering at the Wimberley Thrift Store and Habitat for Humanity, and attended Wimberley Presbyterian Church.

Following Anne’s death, Richard briefly lived in Round Rock, Texas, before moving with his daughter Charla to Midland, Texas, to be closer to family in 2019. In Midland, Richard attended Grace Presbyterian Church.

Richard is survived by two sons: Richard Russell Jackson and his wife Elaine, and Gregory Elliot Jackson and his wife Stacey; daughter: Charla Kay Jackson; grandchildren: Dustin Gregory Jackson, Danielle Rae Gilbert and her husband Seth, and Steele Chance Choate; and four great-grandchildren: Adeline, Winston, Anderson, and Lawson. Richard is also survived by his brother Vernon and his wife Barbara. Richard was preceded in death by his parents Looney and Mercedes and wife Anne.

His memorial service will be held at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Chapel in Midland on Friday, July 5, 2024 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers please send any memorial donations to the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Hospice of Midland.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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