David A. Jackson

October 07, 1924 - May 01, 2010

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 10 o’clock in Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield for David A. Jackson, retired editor of the Litchfield News- Herald who died May 1, 2010 afternoon at 1:55 o’clock p.m. in St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. Rev. James Tinzmann, pastor of St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Litchfield, will officiate and burial will be in the family plot in Elmwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4, 2010.

Born in Litchfield, a son of the late David Winchester Jackson and Maude Abbot McEwen. He was 85 years old last October 7. He was married to the late Mina Jean Miller on February 18, 1950 in South Bend, Ind. She preceded him in death on July 11, 1998. He married Martha McHenry Cassity on August 1, 1999. She survives. He is also survived by daughter, Anne McEwen Jackson (companion, Hal Johnson of Jacksonville, IL); son, David M. Jackson (wife Sharon) of Hindsboro, IL; daughter, Jennifer Elizabeth Jackson Martin (husband Gary) of Litchfield; son, Jeffrey A. Jackson of Litchfield and grandson Andrew David Jackson of Litchfield.

David attended Litchfield schools, graduating from Litchfield High School in the class of 1942. After three years of service in the Army during World War Two, in the corps of Military Police with service in the South Pacific. He was graduated from Illinois College in Jacksonville in 1949. He later served 10 months in the Army during the Korean War. He attained the rank of Sgt. 1st. Class. He was awarded the Good Conduct medal, the American campaign medal, the South Pacific Theatre Ribbon with two bronze battle stars for campaigns in Leyte and Okinawa, the World War Two Victory medal, the Army of Occupation medal, the National Defense medal, the Philippine Liberation medal, with two battle stars.

He was active in civic affairs. He was elected president of the Illinois College Alumni Association, served six years as a member of the board of directors of the Illinois College Alumni Association, was elected to the Hall of Fame at Southern Illinois University School of Journalism and was the recipient of its “Golden Em” award. He received the “Distinguished Citizen” award from Illinois college, was named “Statesman of the Year” by the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce, was the Veiled Non-Profit in 1987, an award of the Litchfield Rotary Club. November 1, 1992, he retired after thirty three years of dedicated service as president of the Litchfield Carnegie Library Board., and was on the board of directors for the Lewis and Clark Library System. He was a charter member of the Montgomery County Genealogical Society, Commissioner of the Litchfield Fire and Police Board from 1976-1981. On Oct. 16, 2000 he was awarded the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award. He was a Montgomery County Board Member representing District 7 for three terms, retiring in 2004. He was a member of American Legion Post 436 and VFW Post 3912. After retiring as managing editor of the News-Herald in 1989, he submitted monthly “Break Time“ articles on Litchfield history. In 2003, he helped edit the Litchfield History Sesquicentennial History Book.

His hobbies were stamp collecting, gathering information of Jackson Family Genealogy, and Litchfield history.

Donations Information

Memorials may be made to the Jackson/Walker Genealogy Room at the Litchfield Carnegie Library, The Montgomery County Genealogy Society, or to the Chaperons for the Veteran’s Honor Flights to Washington D.C.