CAMDEN - Born May 24, 1926, in Doubs, Md., Leon Henry Jackson (a.k.a. "Pug") grew up with his parents Oscar Baltimore Jackson and Sophie Whalen Jackson. When he was to go to the 9th grade his father took him out of school to helped work on nearby farms. He later found employment on the C&O railroad, then in 1944, at the age of 18, joined the United States Air Force, where he served 24 years and was awarded, among other medals, the WWII Victory Ribbon Army of Occupation, in Japan. Leon was honorably discharged in 1968. During his military enlistment, Leon found and married the love of his life, Gladys Hill, and the two went on to parent seven children; four boys and three girls. Leon was known as a quiet but very friendly individual, who was devoted to his wife and kids. He's never met a stranger in his life; only friends he's never met… and he made friends where ever he went. Being a very caring man, he would go out of his way to help someone in need and he never made an issue out of it; it was just who he was. Being the country boy that he was, he loved fishing, hunting, baseball and the outdoors in general. He passed this love onto all of his kids, not believing that you have to be a boy to love the things he loved to do. His sense of humor was as big as his heart. Leon would make you laugh just by certain things he would say… whether it be the phrases like: "dadburnit", "walk a mile in my shoes" or "don't ask nobody nothin'", it was his timing that made it funny. What made it even funnier was when he knew his timing was right, but tried stifling his laughter behind a large smile. In the early 1990's Leon suffered a major stroke that incapacitated him and temporarily left him bed ridden. But being the determined individual that he was and with the help of his loving wife, kids and a special friend (considered family), he managed to fight back and once again, became independent. The condition worsened in the mid 2000's. Leon began suffering smaller strokes and seizures that eventually left him unable to walk and caused him to become disoriented at times. Finally, things took a turn for the worse, when a final seizure put him on a course of no return. Leon died during the early morning hours of July 4th 2014, in the loving arms of his wife and is now alive in the loving arms of God. He was preceded in death by his father, Oscar Baltimore Jackson; mother, Sophie Whalen Jackson; sisters, Katherine Lawson, Eva Lawson, Helen Lawson; and a brother; Royal ("Buck") Lawson. He is survived by his wife, Gladys; his seven kids, Leona, Brenda, James, Michael, Thunderwolf, Martin, Kathleen; and son-in law, Thomas Nicholson. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, numerous great-grand children and one great-great-grand daughter. Viewing will be held 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Thursday, July 10, 2014 in the Pippin Funeral Home, Inc., 119 West Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12 p.m., in Holy Cross Catholic Church, Dover. Burial will be in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro. In lieu of flowers, the family request that you send a donation to the Home of the Brave, 6632 Sharps Road, Milford, DE 19963.