Billy Dean Jackson, 92, of Fort Smith, Arkansas passed away on Monday, August 4, 2025, in his home. He was born on December 30, 1932, in Springfield, AR to Lawrence and Vida Mae (Edwards) Jackson.
As a U.S. Air Force veteran, he played on the Air Force basketball team and once faced the Harlem Globetrotters hosted by Gonzaga University. During his career in the aerospace industry, he designed a component for the Lunar Ejecta Meteorites Project, the results of which remain on the moon today, with a replica displayed at the Smithsonian. For 60 years, he was also a real estate investor. Bill was an avid golfer and of the Christian Faith.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter Beverly Golden.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30AM, Friday, August 8, 2025, at Ocker-Putman Funeral Home in Fort Smith, 4500 Jenny Lind Road with burial with honors to be held at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Shaw Jackson of Fort Smith; two sons, Steve Jackson and his wife Lisa and William Jackson and his wife Natasha all of Fort Smith; a daughter, Susan Boone and her husband Daniel of Fort Smith; a sister Betty Van Valkenburg and her husband Dick of Clovis, CA; 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
The family will visit with friends from 5-7PM on Thursday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be grandsons, and honorary pallbearers will be nephews and golf friends.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude PL, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.