Person:Jackson Springston (1)

The Charlotte Observer (NC) Charlotte NC United States August 18, 2009

Jackson A. Springston, Sr. 'Jack'

Mr. Springston, of the Aldersgate Retirement Community, died August 15, 2009, of heart failure.

He was the son of George Gray and Ruth Frank Springston, of Spencer, WV, and Rison, MD. Jack was born in Spencer, WV, October 25, 1921, and graduated Spencer High School in 1937. He attended Devitt Prep School in Washington, DC, and the US Coast Guard Academy in 1940-41. He also attended Northeastern Univ. night school for 3 years.He enlisted in the US Army as a private in May, 1942, and served in the Philippines with the Americal Division and the First Cavalry Division in Japan. Jack joined the 26th Infantry Division of the Massachusetts National Guard in 1947, serving in Co I, 181st Inf Bn of Milford, and as its Company Commander 1951-1955. He later served in the 181st Combat Engineer Battalion, from which he retired as a Captain, after serving his country for 27 years.

Jack was married to Marie Elizabeth Adams of Holliston, MA, in Lawton, OK, in 1943.

Besides his wife of 66 years, who survives him, he leaves two sons, Jackson Jr. and his wife Barbara Springston of Bellingham, MA, and George Springston, and his wife, Rose Paul, of Plainfield, VT, and two daughters, Elaine Carr, and her husband, Charles Nicely, of Denver, CO, and Beth Springston of Charlotte. There are five grandchildren: Thomas Springston, Robert and Tracey Springston, Chris and Lisa Springston all of Bellingham, MA, Kim Springston of Shrewsbury, MA, and Nathan Carr of Hilo, Hawaii; and four great-grandsons Andrew, Matthew, Daniel, and Jonathan Springston, all of Bellingham, MA.

He was preceded in death by his brothers George and Dan, and a sister, Carolyn.

Jack joined Draper Corp, a loom manufacturer later merged with Rockwell International, as a Clerk Typist, rising to the positions of Customer Service Mgr, Director of Product Engineering and Technical Services, from which he retired in February 1982.

His passions were golf and hiking. He hiked the 2,100 mile Appalachian trail in 1985 and was a member of the NH 4,000 Footer Club. He gave back to the trail through laboring with the trail crews of the Carolina Mtn. Club from 1983 thru 1997 and was a former member of the AMC, GMC, CMC, ATC and the Appalachian Long Distance Hiker's Association.

He also served 10 years with the Algonquin Council of the Boy Scouts of America. With his wife, he delivered Meals on Wheels for 15 years, and cooked in the Spartanburg, SC soup kitchen for 8 years. Jack was a current member of the Derita Baptist Church and the Gideons International.

A memorial service will take place at 2 pm on Saturday, August 22, in the Fellowship Hall in the Aldersgate Retirement Community (3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Jack's name to Gideons International, P.O. Box 563296, Charlotte NC 28256-3296. Arrangements by McEwen Funeral Services, Derita Chapel.

1. ↑ Springston, Jackson A., Rootsweb chart of Jackson A. Springston: Ancestors of Jack Marie Adams Springston wc.r.
2. ↑ Obituary.