Obituaries

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James D. (Jim) Jackson was born to Z. Dwight and Rebecca Jackson on April 30, 1932, in Redstone Township, Pennsylvania. He passed away on November 5, 2024, in Rocky River, Ohio.

Jim met his wife Barbara on a blind date when his friend was dating Barbara’s roommate at Oberlin College. They were married in 1955 and were blessed with a son and two daughters.

He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from Purdue University and Ohio State University respectively, followed by his MBA from Baldwin Wallace University. At Purdue, he was a radio announcer and a stagehand at Purdue’s Hall of Music.

His chemical engineering career included positions with Battelle Institute, TRW, and Sherwood Refractories. In 2016 he was named to the Investment Casting Institute Hall of Honor. He continued consulting internationally well into his 80s.

Jim was an accomplished amateur photographer and loved traveling – both family camping vacations and international business trips. Among his family’s most precious memories of Jim: His gift of a Steinway grand piano to Barbara in appreciation of her musical talents, along with recording her Music Club concerts. Documenting his children’s childhood with hours upon hours of video – not just big events but simple things like riding bikes and running through sprinklers. Their annual two-week camping trips to Rocky Mountain National Park when they were children. Skillfully taking care of any kind of household project for them well into his later years. His children also remember him for his honesty and integrity and never using profanity.

A longtime member of Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, Jim served as deacon and elder, a choir member (famous for hitting the very lowest notes), and a member of the Men’s Bible Study. He went on several CCPC mission trips and at age 87 joined the “In the Steps of Paul” tour in Greece and Turkey. Always generous with his time, talents, and resources, Jim served in many volunteer capacities and was a member of the Dallas Barbershop “Quartet.”

He is survived by his wife Barbara and his children David (Joan) Jackson, Sue (Chuck) Rozek, and Nancy (Paul) Davis, along with three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Ray and Chuck Jackson.