<!-- FH = Florida Memorial Funeral Home -->Robert Avery (Bob) Jackson died peacefully on Friday, July 27, 2012, at the Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home in Floresville, Texas, at the age of 97. He was born on October 29, 1914 in Akron, Ohio to Robert Henderson and Bonna DelClare (nee Gray) Jackson. He grew up in Elizabeth, attended high schools in Bridgeport, played football, and graduated from Parkersburg, all in West Virginia. Bob and Alma were married in the First Methodist Church in Clarksburg, WV, where they began their loving lifetime together. They always enjoyed dancing to the big band music of that era. He proudly served his country during World War II in the Pacific Theater on the Aircraft Carrier USS Corregidor. Bob never met a stranger and was an excellent salesman. He had a successful career in industrial sales with Sinclair, Ohio Oil, Boron, and BP, moving from Clarksburg and Glen Dale, WV to Conneaut Lake and Greensburg, PA, and eventually retiring in Merritt Island, Florida, in the late 70s. There, they enjoyed their many friends and their Riverside Presbyterian Church family. Travels in their RV, plus fishing, swimming, crafts and stained glass projects filled their days. After Alma's death (1996), Bob continued maintaining a household until age 91, when he moved to Argent Court in Jourdanton, TX, an assistant living facility closer to his family in Floresville. They made him feel right at home. He was content until he fell and broke his hip, resulting in a move to the Veterans Home four years ago.He continued to be a member in good standing for over 50 years in the Hermon Masonic Lodge No. 6, in Clarksburg, WV. One of his career highlights was sponsored by Sinclair Oil. For two years Bob traveled throughout the United States with and maintained their World's Fair Dinosaur Exhibit. Golf played a major role in his later years. He and Alma loved working summers at the Clover Leaf Golf Course near Greensburg, PA.Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Alma; his step-mother, Virgie; his sisters, Violet and Marjorie; his brother, Paul; his infant son, Robert Sherman; his grandson, Trevor; and his sons-in-law, Tom Reed and Richard Armstrong. He is survived by his daughters, Sue Armstrong and Bonna Reed; his grandchildren, Jeanne (David) Pitts, Brian (Stefanie) and Margie Armstrong; Robbie (Jami), Garvan (Rebecca), Ben (Shannon), Dorothy (Samantha), and Casey (Amanda) Reed; and his great-grandchildren, Jennifer, Nick, and Sara Pitts; and Marshall, Morgan, BJ, Aiden, Ryan Reed and Lexi Echols, all residing in Texas. The arrangements were handled by Florida Memorial Funeral Home, Rockledge, FL, where he was interred in the mausoleum beside Alma. A memorial will be held in Floresville, TX at a later date. The family especially wants to thank the entire TSVH staff for their compassionate and nurturing care given our Dad/Grandpa/Great-grandpa during these last four years, and the Odyssey Hospice staff for their help during his final days.