JACKSON, Dr. Robert Floyd, D.D.S., F.A.C.D., 88, of Salem, Virginia, was gathered to his kin on Monday, January 4, 2010. He was born in Saltville, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Porter and Vivian Brown Jackson and a sister, Mary Porter Steffey. Dr. Jackson is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marie Goad Jackson; a son and daughter-in-law, Robert, Jr. and Lori Bagley Jackson, of Seabrook, South Carolina; two daughters and sons-in-law, Dr. Susan and Bob Mills of Salem, Virginia; Margaret and Ralph “Bob” Martin of Hillsville, Virginia; five grandchildren and spouses, Matthew and Tracy Jackson, Dana Jackson, Virginia Beach, VA; Timothy Lipton, San Francisco, CA; Robert and Amy Martin, Claudville, VA; and Marie Martin, Roanoke, VA; five great-grandchildren, Brittany Martin, Cole and Riley Jackson, Lexy and Reanna Carico; a brother and sister-in-law, Cecil and Seawillow Jackson, of Wytheville, Virginia; and, a sister, Vivian Jackson Lukas of Ocala, Florida.
Dr. Jackson was a 1939 graduate of Galax High School, Galax, Virginia and a 1945 graduate of the Medical College of Virginia, School of Dentistry, Richmond, Virginia. He was elected into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, Kappa Chapter, and an Honorary Scientific Society for the top 10% of the class and the Delta Sigma Delta Dental Society. His three years of undergraduate training was in Chemical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
During his dental career, Jackson had conferred on him such honors as being named a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, a Fellow of the Virginia Dental Association, and a recipient of the “Distinguished Service Award” by the Virginia Society of Dentistry for Children. He had been a member of the Virginia Dental Association, served as president of the Southwest Virginia Dental Society, Virginia Society of Dentistry for Children, New River Dental Study Club, and the Appalachian Dental Study Club. He practiced dentistry in Hillsville, Virginia and as a dental officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, in the Dental Corps of the U.S. Navy for 38 years. Dr. Jackson employed the first hygienist in Carroll County, his daughter, Margaret Martin. He served voluntarily on extended active duty in WWII; during the Korean Conflict, and briefly during the Vietnam conflict.
After graduating from high school, Jackson attended Army basic training at Fort Meade, Maryland in 1939. In October, 1941 he was advised of his selection as an Aviation Cadet, which he did not accept. But on September, 1942 he received his first commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve which would mark the start of 38 years 7 months 28 days as a reserve officer in the U.S. Navy. His orientation in the U.S. Navy was received at the University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia. On graduation from dental school at the Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, he received the rank of Lt (JG) D.C. U.S.N.R. and was ordered to active duty at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina where he remained during 1945 and 1946.
After being separated from Naval service at the end of WWII he and his family, (wife and son), returned to Hillsville, Virginia and began practicing dentistry with Dr. G. M. Goad, his father-in-law, until 1965 when Dr. Goad suffered a coronary occlusion and retired. This practice was interrupted in 1950 when the Navy requested Dr. Jackson to voluntarily return to active duty at the onset of the Korean conflict, which he did. He served as a Senior Lieutenant in the Dental Corp, U.S. Navy,1950-52. Dr. Jackson’s practice with Dr. Goad was interrupted again during the Vietnam conflict when he voluntarily requested active duty in Vietnam for one year, which was not approved. However, approval of duty aboard ships within the Atlantic Fleet having a back log of dental needs was granted. As a LCDR, Jackson served as a Navy dentist aboard the U.S.S. General Butner, (TAP 113) transporting about 5,000 replacement troops and dependence to Bremerhaven, West Germany and returning troops back to the U.S.A. in 1959. In 1961-62 as a CDR he served aboard the Cruiser U.S.S. Long Beach (CG(N)9), the world’s first nuclear powered cruiser and the first nuclear cruiser to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Ports of call were in France and West Germany. Jackson served as a member of the Naval Reserve Mobilization Team, Division 5-7(S) Naval Reserve Training Center, Roanoke, Virginia from 1952-1970. Each week Dr. Jackson commuted from Hillsville to Roanoke serving from 1964-1970 at non-pay status. He transferred to the Ready Reserve, U.S. Naval Reserve, 12 November, 1974. On 21 May 1981, at the age of 60, he was retired from the U.S. Navy as a Captain, Dental Corps, United States Naval Reserve.
Jackson was a member of the Hillsville Rotary Club for 30 years, serving as president twice. He was active in the Hillsville Business and Professional Men’s Organization, holding many offices. He was elected two terms on the Town Council first from 1948-50, then from 1953-56, during which he served as Vice Mayor. Starting in 1946, Jackson worked with the Carroll-Grayson Boy Scouts of America for a total of 22 years serving as a member of the Executive Board for the Blue Ridge Council in Roanoke, Virginia. From 1963-66, Jackson served on the Galax-Carroll-Grayson Chamber of Commerce, vice president during 1964-65. During Virginia Governor Linwood Holton’s term in office, 1971-74, he served as a military aide on the Governor’s staff. Jackson was a member of the Dental Assisting Advisory Committee of Wytheville Community College for 12 years. Jackson served three years as a part-time instructor in the Dental Assisting Program, 1974-76. He also served on the W.C.C. Board for eight years representing Carroll County. The Commonwealth of Virginia awarded Dr. Jackson a certificate in recognition and appreciation of his invaluable volunteer services to the Commonwealth of Virginia and to the Virginia Community College System.
Dr. Jackson was a member of the Hillsville Lodge Masonic Order since 1943. Jackson became a member of the Methodist Church by profession of faith at the age of 14 years in Meadowview, Virginia. In 1945 he joined the First United Methodist Church, Hillsville, Virginia. He served among other positions as lay leader, chairman of the Administrative Board, chairman of the Church Relocation and Building Committee, (three years), completing a 13,000 square foot building on a new eight acre site. Organized and served as first president of the Hillsville Area United Methodist Men. He was a student of Dr. William Barclay, of England fame, for over fifty years.
The Jackson’s moved to Salem, Virginia, from Hillsville in August, 1995, and became and a member of the Greene Memorial United Methodist Church, Roanoke, Virginia. In December of 2009, he moved his church membership to the First United Methodist Church, Hillsville. He had taught the International Sunday School Lesson of the United Methodist Church for over fifty years. Five of his favorite mentors are Dr. William Barclay, Dr. Georgia Harkness, Dr. Leslie D. Weatherhead, Dr. Charles Allen and Dr. Marcus J. Borg. Jackson strongly believed that the study of the Bible is relevant to life and necessary for continued spiritual growth. In retirement, Jackson said that he and his wife, Marie, were lucky because they shared the same pursuits: they both enjoyed lapidary craft, reading, fishing, travel and gardening. Since his retirement in 1983, they had spent April to October each year at their home in Salem, Virginia, and October to April in Melbourne Beach, Florida. March 24, 2007, Bob and Marie left Florida for the last time to spend the remainder of their days in Virginia close to family in Salem. Dr. Jackson was loved and respected by his patients, friends and family alike and will be greatly missed.
The family will receive friends at First United Methodist Church on Thursday, January 7, 2010 from 6 until 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 225 Fulcher Street, Hillsville, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2010 with visitation thirty minutes prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 356, Hillsville, VA 24343.
He was a great man and dentist.