Roll Call Tribute

George Frederick "Fred" Jackson, III 

June 15, 1946 - April 1, 2025 

George F. "Fred" Jackson, III, of Flint, Texas, passed away April 1, 2025. 

A memorial service for George Frederick Jackson, III, age 78, is scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2025 at 10:30am at Flint Baptist Church in Flint, Texas. Mr. Lanny Bridges, and Rev. Sam DeVille will be officiating. A luncheon will follow. He will be laid to rest at a private family graveside service at Stillwaters Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville. The Rev. Robert Rohlin will be officiating. Military honors will be performed, including the playing of taps and the presentation of a flag to Fred’s widow.

Fred was born on June 15, 1946, in Jacksonville, Texas to George Fleming Jackson, Jr. and Frances Zanell Gober Jackson, with his parents preceding him in death. Fred went to be with the Lord on April 1, 2025 at Christus Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital in Tyler, TX.

Fred attended Texas A&M University and was in the Corps of Cadets, in the “Hellcat 9” Squadron. He was both graduated from Texas A&M and commissioned to the United States Air Force on May 24th, 1968. He graduated with a degree in Nuclear Engineering. The following year, he received pilot training flying T-37, T-38 and C-130 aircraft at Laughlin AFB. Shortly thereafter he was assigned to Vietnam, where he flew 435 Combat Missions. One of his favorite stories to tell was that he flew Bob Hope and the Gold Diggers from the Dean Martin Show several times to Vietnam for USO shows. Fred was discharged from the USAF in 1973 with the rank of Captain, but continued to fly in the Air Force Reserves until 1978.

In 1972, he would meet the love of his life Claudia Dancy while stationed at Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, NC. They would go on to marry on August 23, 1975. Claudia has loved her “Gift from God” for over 50 years.

In 1973, after his time in the USAF, he would begin an exciting career with NASA at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. His job there was to develop and design the flight control system for the Space Shuttle. Once developed, he participated in the Approach and Landing, Terminal Area Energy Management, and Low Earth Orbit and re-entry. He enjoyed training many astronauts, including Joe Engle, John Young, Robert Crippen, Ken Mattingly and many others. He would go on to become Houston’s lead engineer when the Space Shuttle project was evaluated at the Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California.

After his time at NASA, Fred began his primary career as a pilot for American Airlines and spent 33 years there. He had the highest rank of Captain and flew both national and international flights in the Boeing 777 aircraft. Fred loved flying so much, he built his own two-seater airplane from a “kit,” which meant many “hands-on” hours of labor. He crafted the paint design and color. He flew his plane at every opportunity.

Later in life, Fred and Claudia set up a “Boots and Saber” scholarship at A&M, which was awarded to many deserving cadets over the years. Fred stayed in touch with his A&M squadron classmates throughout his life.

Fred and Claudia lived near Noonday, Texas, on Lake Palestine for 48 years. They had a second home in Buena Vista, Colorado, where they went to escape the hot Texas summers. Fred became an avid mountain climber, and made it to the top of many mountains at 14,000 feet. He also was fond of golf, and played several times a week in Buena Vista.

Fred was a member of the Methodist Church earlier in his life. He chose to be baptized as an adult in Green Acres Baptist Church, where he was a member for many years and sang in the choir. In his final years, he attended Flint Baptist Church. He was a member of Bible Study Fellowship for 16 years, including 6 years on the Area Team.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of fifty years, Claudia Dancy Jackson of Flint; his sister, Bonnie Jackson Phlieger and husband James, of Jacksonville, and his brother, Robert Rohlin and wife Judy, of Mansfield, TX; his brother-in-law Adam Dancy and wife YonSu of Huntersville, NC; and sister-in-law Sallie Dancy of Granite Falls, NC. His nieces and nephews include Brian Yates, Deborah Veley, Loran Hampton, Melody Preuninger, Richard Rohlin, Faith Allen, Grace Stephenson, Hope Pell, Harmony West, Arthur Rohlin, Christiana Rohlin, Michael Dancy, Gabriel Dancy, Isaac Dancy, Jeannie Sanders; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

The family wishes to acknowledge the physicians, nurses, and staff at The Christus Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital Cardiac ICU who provided compassionate and quality care during his final illness.