Ben (Benny) was born October 3, 1932 in Sayre son of the late Scott W. and Helen (Ayres) Jackson. Following graduation from school he and the former Regina M. McDermott were married on October 6, 1951.
In his high school years, he was an active member of the FFA and a dominant pitcher on the baseball team. He, along with his teammates, won the district title in 1950. He was offered a contract to pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers farm team, however, he turned it down to pursue his dream of being a dairy farmer.
Ben was a lifetime dairy farmer and cattle breeder. He was raised on the family farm on Wetona Road and was active there his whole life. He was an faithful member of the Wetona/Big Pond United Methodist Church, PA Holstein Association, PA Farm Bureau and lifetime member of the NRA, a few highlights in his career were DHIA Distinguished Dairyman Award, Mid-Atlantic Regional Master Farmer Award and was inducted into the PA Holstein Association Hall of Fame. His passion for cattle breeding resulted in showing and marketing cattle at the local, state and national levels. He especially enjoyed the camaraderie and competition of the shows at the Troy Fair. He could always be found lending a hand or giving a word of encouragement to others. Ben was also an avid outdoors man and hunter.
The funeral service was held January 2, at the Troy First United Methodist Church, Troy, with Reverend Joshua Davinsizer officiating. Interment followed in Wetona Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Gerald W. Vickery, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. Troy, PA.
Memorials in Ben’s memory may be made to the Wetona United Methodist Church, 205 Redington Avenue, Troy, PA 16947 or Guthrie Hospice 421 Tomahawk Road Towanda, PA 18848.