Harold M. Jackson II

Harold M. Jackson II was born Sept. 11, 1928, in Charlotte as the youngest of three sons to F. Raymond and Laura Rowley Jackson. He passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2014.

Harold went through the Charlotte public school system where he graduated from Charlotte Central High School in 1945. He began his college education at the age of 16 at Duke University from which he graduated Magna cum Laude BS in Electrical Engineering in 1949. There he held membership in many academic fraternities as well the Phi Kappa Psi social fraternity. In 1955 he received an MS degree from The Ohio State University. Harold remained an active and loyal alumnus to both Duke and OSU and was an avid sports fan of both.

From 1952 – 1954, Harold proudly served on active duty in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at the Wright Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, Ohio, where he met the love of his life, Mary Ball. They wed in 1954, and had four children.

Harold began his professional career as an electrical engineer with Western Electric Co. where he worked in a manufacturing group of equipment for USAF bombing navigation systems. He moved on to work for Bell Telephone Laboratories for the remainder of his career, until retirement in 1993. Employment for Bell Labs took them from Whippany, NJ, to Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, Naperville, IL, and back to Murray Hill, NJ. While employed he worked mainly on computer technology including early missile detection software for Safeguard Anti-Ballistic Missile systems. Harold was active in the Telephone Pioneers of America including serving as President of the Frank B. Jewett Chapter.

No matter where he lived, Harold was a consummate community volunteer and was active in his church. He volunteered with Tax Counseling for Elderly, was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Hendersonville, served as Chairman of the Board of St. James School for Little Folks, a member of the Hendersonville Area Computer Society (HACS), a member of and President of the Four Seasons Dance Club, and Treasurer of the Hendersonville Country Club Senior Golf Association.

Harold was an avid golfer and computer enthusiast. He loved his family and friends, and was a true "Southern Gentleman". He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers; Frederick R. Jackson, and Franklin R. Jackson.

He is survived by , and will be greatly missed by, his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Mary Ball Jackson, daughter Lisa (Tom) Ridgley of Columbus, Ohio; son F. Rowley (Peggie) Jackson of Atlanta, GA; daughter Julie (John) Silk of Hinsdale, IL; and daughter Laura (Chuck) Luse of Wheaton, IL; and grandchildren, Katherine (Matthew) Snipes, Martha (Matthew) Allen, Jamie Jackson, Bobby Silk, Jack Luse, Andrew Silk, Victoria Jackson, Kenny Silk, Michael Luse, Matthew Silk, Maddie Luse, and Patrick Jackson.

The Jackson family would like to acknowledge all the special people at Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation who cared for Harold during his short stay there.

A Celebration of Life service with The Rev. Dr. Joel Hafer officiating will be 2 p.m. Saturday March 15, 2014, at St. James Episcopal Church in Hendersonville.The family will receive friends immediately following the service in Stillwell Hall of the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163, or michaeljfox.org, or The Pardee Hospital Foundation, 800 N. Justice Street, Hendersonville, NC 28791.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.