Lt. Col. Glen Albright Jackson (USAF, ret.) was born in Lincoln, Alabama, March 30, 1932 and died January 23, 2023 at his home in San Antonio, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Velma “Veejay” the love of his life. They were married for sixty-nine years.
Glen claimed to be a poor little boy who grew up in the piney woods of Alabama. Partially true, he grew up helping his mom in the cotton fields until life improved when the family moved to a dairy farm in Hale County, Alabama. Glen worked hard and put himself through college at the University of Alabama and became a lifelong avid fan of the Crimson Tide, giving a familiar “Roll Tide” greeting to friends and foes alike. ROTC gave him an entree into the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. He served his country well and proudly through 23 years, including a year in Vietnam as well as a tour at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in Germany, Hawaii and South Carolina. Glen was awarded the Bronze Star after his service in Vietnam. After exiting his military career, he and Veejay relocated to Ruskin, Florida where they lived on Tampa Bay and he fished for two years!
Glen helped make his and Veejay’s dream home become a reality, building a custom home off the Little Manatee River, board by board and nail by nail, with one other contractor. Glen began a second career in business and banking with a tenure of two years as Chamber of Commerce Director in Ruskin, after which he spent ten years as Branch Manager with Glendale Federal Savings and Loan in South Hillsborough County.
After relocating to Sarasota, Glen enjoyed (and was occasionally frustrated by) many rounds of golf with friends at Bent Tree Country Club and other lovely courses over the years, aiming each year on his birthday to “shoot my age or better.” His love of golf began while living in Hawaii early in his Air Force career and he and Veejay enjoyed many pleasurable years on the links, most recently with friends from Blue Skies at the San Antonio Golf Course.
Glen loved his Lord and served faithfully many years as a Methodist congregant and most recently with Stephen’s Ministry in the Blue Skies of Texas Air Force Village community. Glen made friends readily, laughed at a good joke, and enjoyed conversation as well as a great glass of red wine. He was loved by many and will be missed.
Glen is predeceased by his parents, Joe Cowen Jackson and Ruth Hollingsworth Jackson as well as his brother Don T. Jackson of Greensboro, Alabama. In addition to his wife, Veejay, he is also survived by two brothers, Joe Jackson of Trussville, Alabama and Hugh Jackson (Barbara) of Lilburn, Georgia; a dear sister-in-law, Doris Jackson of Greensboro, Alabama; and numerous adoring Tucker and Jackson nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the Blue Skies Hospice Team staff and volunteers for your care in the past weeks. We also thank all friends and family for your outpouring of love through calls, visits, flowers, cards, hugs, laughter through tears, words of encouragement and remembrances!
A memorial service will be held Friday, February 17, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the High Flight Chapel at Blue Skies of Texas West with reception after the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation/Widows’ Fund, C/O Corporate Offices, 5100 John D. Ryan Blvd., San Antonio, TX, 78245, Tel: 210-568-3206, EIN: 81-0620738. Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home.
