Calvin Edward Jackson was born June 11, 1934 in Drumright, OK to Marshall Edward Jackson and Inez Thornhill. He married Sylvia Jean Myers on July 21, 1956 in Tulsa, OK in a double wedding ceremony with his brother Marshall Muller Jackson. Calvin graduated high school in Tulsa in which he held 1st chair in band playing the trombone.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1957 as an Electronics Technician. He was disciplined in trouble shooting and solving electrical problems with the gun targeting computer, in addition he was in charge of his own gunning unit. During his years in the Navy he was on the U.S. S. Boxer CVA-21, U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard CVA-31, and the U. S.S. Essex CVA-9. In the Navy he accomplished several feats: He is a twice member of "Golden Dragon" which means he crossed the International Date Line on the U.S. S. Boxer and a second time on the U.S. S. Bon Homme Richard. While on the U.S. S. Essex Calvin became: a "Blue Nose" (crossed the Artic Circle), a "Moss Back" (went around Cape Horn), and a "Shell Back" (crossed the equator).
He traveled to many ports around the world. He purchased fine woolen plaids and sewed his own jackets and shirts.
Calvin was the owner of Sooner State Spring & Manufacturing Co. in Chouteau, OK until his retirement. As a tool & die maker he shipped springs, wireforms, and stampings to France, Canada, British West Indies, Mexico City and throughout the United States.
He had a varied interest of hobbies including: catfish farming, vegetable gardening (orchard and vineyard), raising various fowl, dairy farming and raising cattle, bee keeping. Calvin had a greenhouse. He built and maintained an aquaponics system, grew tropical fruits pineapple, bananas, grapefruit, figs, and avocados in his greenhouse. He always had plenty of home- grown garlic.
Calvin cut all his own firewood. He hunted coon/ rabbit and squirrel with his dogs.
He enjoyed fishing - all methods day or night from a boat or on shore. Calvin enjoyed sausage making, dehydrating food, baking cinnamon rolls, making peanut butter, and smoking briskets. Calvin enjoyed camping, making his own ammunition, and center-fire rifles. He built a successful steam engine. Calvin acquired two bulldozers that he built a pond with and cleared land. He did all the repair on all of his machinery himself. Nothing ever sat around in a broke down condition. Things were always fixed, sharpened, and oiled before they were put away. Calvin liked antique tractor pulls. He claimed over 20 trophies with his two tractors that he rebuilt himself. He owned and maintained the tractor pulling sled for the club. He was very active in ham radio. Calvin was president of the QWCA Ham Radio Club of Oklahoma for several years and wrote his own news letters for the club. He built an interesting microphone from a showerhead; this was fun for him and his idea was featured in QST Magazine.
Calvin was an accomplished guitarist and played guitar many years in the church. He recorded his own music and wrote a book on how to play the guitar.
Calvin wrote his own accounting software for his spring manufacturing business, and it is still in use today. Calvin Jackson held several patents.vin was always very patriotic and wouldn't tolerate disrespect for our country or military. Back in 1997 one of his children, Rachal, came up with a contest to make firecracker boats. We all jumped into the fun and wrote official rules including size limits and banning any popping cracker (which defeats your purpose anyway). You don't want to blow your boat up and be disqualified. The winner is the boat that can travel the furthest from point of origin under firecracker spewing power only, no sails, no motors. Anyway, Dad loved it! We've had our own "Pyrotechnic Regatta" almost every year since then.
Calvin always went to church all his life. Just about every time the doors were open. He was an active member and involved in every church that he ever attended. He was an advanced teacher and biblical scholar. He played his guitar regularly wherever he went, and only played his guitar for the Lord.
Calvin was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Marshall, sisters, Christine and Naomi, and children Sharon Margaret Jackson and Jack Leon Jackson.
At the age of 84 Calvin left this earth the morning of October 25, 2018 and is lovingly survived by his wife of 62 years Sylvia, his sister Katherine Inez Jackson Skinner Magrini, his brother Phillip Nickolas Jackson, his children, Victoria Inez Jackson, Martin Edward Jackson, Dianna Louise Whorton, Zachary Calvin Jackson, and Rachal Marie Roberts, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Viewing will be 12 Noon-8PM with family greeting friends from 4-7PM, Monday, October 29, 2018 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. Funeral service will be 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at Garnett Assembly of God, 2930 S. Garnett, Tulsa, OK. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233