John Jackson, 87, died Tuesday in Lexington, KY. A native of Della in Leslie County, Kentucky, he attended the Pine Mountain Settlement School. He started working at age 15 in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Arizona, Idaho and Kentucky before taking a job as a manager for the Harlan Water Company. He served with the 409th Field Artillery in the Second Army in World War II in France and Germany. John mentioned that he walked from Normandy to Berlin. He returned to the Harlan Water Company after the war. He also operated restaurants in Baxter and Loyall, Kentucky. He then moved to Maryland where he was an HVAC specialist for the U. S. Government at Patuxent River Naval Air Station and retired after 27 years of service. John and Ella Bee, his wife of 40 years, lived for many years in Florida after retiring from the Civil Service. John was an avid square, round and ballroom dancer, enjoyed travel, was a trophy winning bowler as well as an accomplished chef. He also enjoyed boating and fishing, especially with his lifelong buddy Earl Pennington. He was a member of the Elks, Rotary, and VFW in Port Charlotte, Florida. He attended the Fayette Church of Christ in Lexington. Many thanks to his caretakers: Cathy, Linda, Georgia, Denise, Shorty, Tina, Mickey, Sue, Brenda and Marquetta.

He is survived by sisters, Opha Pennington (Earl) (Lexington), Thelma Lewis (Harlan) and nieces Helen Sue Paul (Wynn), Shirley Tolliver (Robert), Judy Croley (Rod), Eulene Doss and nephew Paul Jackson. He was preceded in death by his parents William H. Jackson and Delia Minniard Jackson, his wife Ella Bee Campbell Jackson, son John Raymond Jackson, brothers Clair, Earl, Bert and Bill Jackson and sisters Bess Pennington and Birdie Jackson.

Visitation will be at W.R. Milward Mortuary- Southland on Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

There will be a funeral service held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Milwards in Southland. John will be interred in Punta Gorda, Florida beside to his wife.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Bluegrass Hospice of Lexington.