Welby Jackson

Welby Jackson, 88, of Odessa, formerly of Big Spring, died Sunday, March 30, 2014 in an Odessa nursing home. Graveside services will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at the Peace Chapel at Trinity Memorial Park with Rev. Mark Lindsey officiating. Memorial services will be 4:00 PM Wednesday at Mission Dorado Baptist Church in Odessa with Rev. Bob Bratcher officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. William Welby Jackson, Jr. was born June 8, 1925 in Oakdale, Louisiana to William Welby Jackson, Sr. and Ealy Lee Jackson. His early years were spent in DeRidder, Louisiana before moving to Diboll, Texas with his parents in 1938. He graduated from Diboll High School at midterm in 1943 and was immediately called into service where he served three years in the Navy during World War II. Later he was recalled and spent another three years during the Korean Conflict. Welby married Essie Crouch in Lufkin, Texas July 19, 1952. After being discharged from the Navy he worked for Halliburton in El Campo. Liberty and Bay City before being transferred to Big Spring in August of 1958 where he lived until the fall of 2010 when he moved to Parks Methodist Retirement Village in Odessa. He retired from the Big Spring refinery in 1982 with 23 years of service. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Big Spring for 52 years, ordained as a deacon in 1961 and served until 2010 when he moved to Odessa. He is survived by his wife, Essie; a daughter, Georga Runyan and husband, Dan of Valrico, Florida; a son, Dan Jackson and wife, Marty of Ligonier, Pennsylvania; 4 grandchildren, Jason Runyan and wife, Karen, Jeff Runyan and wife, Rachel, Nic Rovedatti and fiancée, Sarah Foster and Kristi Rovedatti; three great-grandchildren, Jacob Runyan, Penelope Runyan and Jackson Eidson; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Jackie Sheets and Frankie Blackburn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Circle Six Ranch Baptist Camp, P. O. Box 976, Stanton, Texas 79782 or Texas Port Ministries, 1103 Cherry St., Freeport, Texas 77541, where he and Essie spent time as volunteers with Campers On Mission for over 20 years. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home, Big Spring. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com,