Esther H. Jackson passed away on June 6th, 2022 in Leesburg, Florida. She was 91 years old.
Esther was born on August 27th, 1930 in Columbus, Ohio to Albert & Helen Hirth. She attended The Brown School in Kilbourne, Ohio for 12 years where her mother was a teacher and her father was the principal. Esther graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and shortly after, met her husband of 67 years, Dr. Ray Jackson.
After her husband retired from the Air Force, they moved to Florida where Esther continued her career as an assistant Nursing Instructor in Gainesville and at Orange Memorial Hospital in Orlando. Esther put her career on hold to raise her two boys. She enjoyed being a cub scout den mother in Leesburg, FL in the late 1960’s.
As President of the Sumter County League of Women Voters, Esther testified in both Washington and South Carolina state congressional hearings to help create the Congaree Swamp National Park in South Carolina. Esther was Vice President of Jacksons TV & Appliances in Clermont, FL from 1978 to 1987. She also ventured into real estate but ultimately returned to her passion, nursing. She retired in 1998 from Putnam Hospital in Palatka, FL. She was passionate about both Ohio State and University of Florida football. She also loved to travel, visiting all 50 states and over 10 countries. Esther loved to play bridge and did so for 65 years.
However, her most enjoyable passion was sitting with Ray, overlooking the lakes and mountains from their homes in Florida and Livingston, Montana.
Esther is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Ray Jackson and her parents, Albert S. and Helen Hirth. She is survived by her sister, Mary Bowers of Delaware and her sons Jeff Jackson (Cathy) and David Jackson of Saint Augustine.
Services will be planned at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift to Lake Sumter State College Scholarship Fund is appreciated. https://www.lssc.edu/dept/foundation
