Walter G. Jackson, 88 of Franklin died June 1 in his home following a long illness. He was the husband of the late Mary F. (Picard) Jackson who died in 2002.
Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, October 6, 1920, the son of the late Walter and Stella (Janusefski) Jatkiewicz, Mr. Jackson was raised in Nashua and had lived in Franklin since 1954.
Mr. Jackson attended Riverside Jr. College in California and was a graduate of the Boston School of Anatomy and Embalming.
A funeral director, Mr. Jackson began his career working for the Davis Funeral Home in Nashua, then the Graham Funeral Service in Worcester, Mann & Mann Funeral Home of Boston and P.E. Murray Funeral Home in Boston.
In 1954, Mr. Jackson opened his own funeral home in Franklin which he operated until he sold the business to the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin.
He continued to help area funeral homes for several years after that.
Mr. Jackson had been member of the Franklin Board of Health from 1978 -1992 and was Chairman from 1985-1992. He was named to the Executive committee of the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards on which he served for several years.
He was also long active with the Franklin Cemetery Association where he was instrumental in getting the Union Street Cemetery back in “working order” after years of neglect.
He also helped oversee the City Mills Cemetery in Franklin for many years.
Mr. Jackson was long active in many Franklin groups throughout the years.
He was a scoutmaster of Troop 99, Franklin, Director of Men’s Residences at Dean Jr. College, Member of the Franklin Industrial Commission, Chairman of the Franklin Citizens Advisory Committee, Member of the Franklin Bicentennial Committee, a Member and donor of the Franklin Time Capsule Committee, Treasurer of the Franklin chapter of the American Red Cross, Member of the Franklin War Veterans Committee, Member of the water task force, Board of Trustees of the American Cancer Society, Attleboro region, Member of the Franklin Rotary Club from 1954-1992 and was its President in 1962-63 and a Paul Harris Fellow.
Member of the Franklin Charter Commission, he was also a Life member of the Franklin Rod and Gun Club, Charter member of the Franklin Lodge of Elks, Life member of the American Legion, Life member of the Franklin Knights of Columbus and also a Fourth Degree Knight, A member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Franklin Elders, Member of the Franklin Conservation Commission and was a Notary Public.
Mr. Jackson served in the Army during World War II attaining the rank of Sergeant.
For many, Mr. Jackson will be remembered with respect for being there at times when a loved one had died with his dignity and compassion, helping those he could, to get them through their hardest times.
He is survived by his daughter, Beth E. Jackson of Plainville, his son, Walter E. Jackson of Janesville, Wisconsin and his grandchildren, Heather L. Jackson of Ontario, Canada and grandson, Adam J. Jackson of Roxbury, Vermont.
His funeral will be held on Saturday, June 6 from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin, 131 Main St. Franklin at 11:15 followed by a funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church at Noon.
Burial will be in Union Street Cemetery.
Calling hours will be on Friday from 3-7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Community VNA, 10 Emory St., Attleboro, MA 02703 or the Friends of Franklin Elders, 10 Daniel McCahill St., Franklin, MA 02038.