William Jackson

William "Bill" Preston Jackson

MILFORD - William P. Jackson passed away Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital in Dover after a short illness.  He was 78.

Bill was born in Felton on July 7, 1937, son of the late Preston O. and Irene (Jones) Jackson.

He attended Harrington High School through eleventh grade and spent his senior year at James H. Groves School in Woodside from where he received his diploma.  He also attended classes at Wesley College in Dover to secure his real estate license.

Mr. Jackson worked at International Playtex Corporation as a supervisor for 43 years before retiring.  During his time with the company, he attended the Delaware Fire School to become a member of the Playtex Fire Brigade, and developed a different method of shipping for Playtex that ultimately was quite profitable for the company.  He was also a member of the 25 Year Club of Playtex.

After retirement, Bill went to work as an agent with the Marvel Agency in Milford and remained there for 30 years. During his real estate career, Bill was awarded by Delaware Today magazine as Top Scoring Real Estate Agent in 2010 and 2011; and 5 Star Real Estate Agent for three consecutive years from 2012-2014.  He and his wife Ginger owned and operated Jackson Exxon Service Station, deli, garage, and apartment for 2 1/2 years.  Together, they also owned and operated a country craft business for 26 years, where they traveled to different states, and were co-owners of Haute Interiors in Lewes. In addition, they have a rental business and maintain a large vegetable garden that supplies fresh produce to family, friends, and neighbors.  The two of them are also known for their spectacular Christmas display each year for all to enjoy.

Bill was a Milford Little League coach for the "Tigers" and was the first person to start a PA system for the little league in the back of the pick up truck.  He was also a coach for basketball and Pop Warner football; and played for the Playtex slow pitch softball team.  He raced a stock car number "6J" at the Little Lincoln Speedway and was a member of the Southern Delaware Street Rod Association where he and his wife traveled to shows in his '36 Chevy Sedan.  Bill owned and raced standard bred horses from 1982-1986.

He was a devoted member of the Avenue United Methodist Church in Milford, active with the Methodist Men and a second grade Sunday school teacher, along with his wife, for 15 years.  Bill was a member for over 40 years of the Milford Lions Club.  He was a privileged member since 1996, a director from 1977-1983, chairman of the Lions Club Horseshow from 1977-1978, and hand delivered phone books in the back of his pick-up truck.  He was a member of the Kent & Sussex County Realtors Association, and belonged to the American Pool Players Association.

Bill enjoyed traveling with his grandson Travor for BMX racing all over the states as well as watching sprint car racing with his grandson Jeremy.  He also enjoyed the many cruises he took with his wife over the years and traveling to special places such as Hawaii, Scotland, England, Canada, Alaska, and many more.  He loved playing dominoes and going to Rehoboth Beach and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant brother.

Bill is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 60 years, Ginger Jackson; his four children; Wanda Richardson and her husband Ed, Crystal Lynch and her husband Paige, Tanja Payton and her husband Tom, and Scott Jackson and his wife Amy; his grandchildren; Jeremy Lynch and his wife Jessica, Adam Richardson and his wife Christina, Brynn Byerly and her husband Richard, Travor Payton and his fiancée Ashlee, George Jackson and his wife Kim, Cody Jackson, Cole Jackson and Nicholas Jackson; his great-grandchildren, Gabe and Michael Richardson, and Jayce Lynch; and his sister, Diane Brooks and her husband William.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 31, 2015 at Rogers Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave, Milford, where friends may call after 11:00 a.m.

Burial will follow the services in Hollywood Cemetery, Harrington.